Prime Minister Narendra Modi Archives - Page 45 of 75 - Lokmarg

Modi, Sunak Hold Discussion Over India-UK FTA Progress

By LokMarg 21st May 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his United Kingdom counterpart Rishi Sunak, on Sunday, discussed the India-UK free trade agreement, innovation, and science along with Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

PM Modi and UK PM Sunak met in Hiroshima on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit and discussed wide-ranging aspects in Hiroshima.

“We discussed boosting cooperation in trade, innovation, science, and other such sectors,’ PM Modi shared on Twitter.

“The two leaders reviewed their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including taking stock of progress in India-UK FTA negotiations. Leaders agreed to deepen cooperation across a wide range of areas, such as trade & investment, science & technology, higher education, and people-to-people relationships,” according to the official statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs.

A UK-India trade agreement will stimulate growth and employment in both countries and will help diversify supply chains by making it easier and cheaper for more businesses to do business across borders. The seventh round of India-UK FTA discussions took place in London from February 6-10.

Both leaders also discussed India’s ongoing G-20 Presidency and PM Modi welcomed Sunak in New Delhi for the G-20 Summit.

Earlier today, PM Modi began his day by visiting the Peace Memorial Museum, where he observed the documented exhibits and signed the visitor’s book.

PM Modi along with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and other leaders paid tribute to the memory of Hiroshima victims at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan.

Prime Minister Modi was seen having a brief conversation with Australian PM Anthony Albanese as the invited countries were on their way to pay tributes to Hiroshima victims.

PM Modi is in Japan to attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit. The Prime Minister is visiting the East Asian country at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida.

Japan is hosting the G7 summit as the current chair of the powerful grouping. PM Modi is in Hiroshima for the G7 summit from May 19 to May 21.

Apart from Sunak, he met the Brazilian leader today.

On Saturday, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

PM Modi participated in the session on “Working Together to Address Multiple Crises” where he presented suggestions for improving global food security.

Speaking at a session,” PM Modi said, “The priority should be given to the creation of an inclusive food system focused on the world’s most vulnerable people, in particular marginal farmers,” making it clear that India’s focus remains on the developing countries of the so-called Global South when he speaks at key international forums.

PM Modi stressed 10 point call to action at the G7 Summit comprising developing inclusive food systems that protect the most vulnerable, including marginal farmers; adopting Millets: path to nutritional and environmental benefits; stopping food wastage from strengthening food security; depoliticizing global fertilizer supply chains; developing an alternative model to fertilizers; developing resilient healthcare systems; promoting holistic healthcare, pursue traditional systems of medicine; promoting digital health to ensure global universal health coverage; ensuring mobility of healthcare professionals and building development models inspired by needs of developing countries, not driven by consumerism.

The G7 Summit is an international forum held annually for the leaders of the G7 member states of France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada (in order of rotating presidency), and the European Union (EU).

Japan under its G7 Presidency has invited leaders from Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Vietnam. (ANI)

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Will Be Happy To Host Quad Summit In India In 2024: Modi

By LokMarg 20th May 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that India will be willing to host the next Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue meeting in 2024.

“We will be happy to host the Quad summit in India in 2024,” PM Modi said in the opening remarks of the Quad meeting held on the sidelines of a Group of Seven Summit (G-7) meeting in the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
PM Modi was addressing leaders of the US, Australia and Japan, which along with Japan constitute the informal strategic forum called the Quadrilateral Grouping whose primary objective is working for a free, open, prosperous, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

“Quad will continue to make efforts towards global good, welfare of the people, prosperity and peace,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

The forum traces its genesis to 2004, when the four countries came together to coordinate relief operations in the aftermath of the tsunami.

In 2007, the group again met on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) sidelines. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the first to pitch the idea for the formation of Quad in 2007.

Earlier this week, the planned summit of Quad leaders from the US, India, Australia, and Japan in Sydney was cancelled after US President Biden withdrew from his visit due to ongoing debt limit talks in Washington.

However, the White on Friday (local time) agreed to hold the summit in Japan’s Hiroshima.

“After President Biden had to postpone his trip to Australia, the Quad leaders agreed that they would hold their summit in Hiroshima to ensure that the four leaders could come together to mark the Quad’s progress over the past year. So tomorrow, in addition to the G7, President Biden will participate in the third in-person Quad Leaders’ meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India,” read a statement by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Biden scrapped his planned trip to Sydney as well as a historic visit to Papua New Guinea. The decision — which prompted Albanese to cancel the scheduled Quad summit — was seen as a self-inflicted blow to hopes of a more visible US presence in the Indo-Pacific amid its competition with China in the region.

US President Biden thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese and Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida for agreeing to participate in the Quad meeting today on the sidelines of the G7 summit here.

The White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement on Friday (local time) said that Quad leaders agreed to hold their summit in Hiroshima to ensure that the four leaders could come together to mark the Quad’s progress over the past year.

“Along with sharing strategic assessments, the leaders will welcome new forms of Quad cooperation on secure digital technology, submarine cables, infrastructure capacity building, and maritime awareness,” the statement added. (ANI)

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Modi Unveils Bust Of Gandhi In Hiroshima

By LokMarg 20th May 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Japan at the invitation of Fumio Kishida to attend the G7 Summit, unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima on Saturday.

After the bust was unveiled, PM Modi paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Hiroshima on Friday to attend the G7 Summit at the invitation of Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida.

Speaking to reporters in Hiroshima, after unveiling the bust of Mahatma Gandhi, PM Modi said that even today the world gets frightened when they listen to the word ‘Hiroshima’.

He said, “I got the opportunity to unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi during my visit to Japan for the G7 Summit. The bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima will take forward the idea of non-violence.”

“It is a great moment for me to know that the Bodhi tree that I gifted to the Japanese PM has been planted here in Hiroshima so that people can understand the importance of peace when they come here. I pay my respect to Mahatma Gandhi,” PM Modi added.

The G7 leaders are currently in Japan to attend the G7 Summit scheduled to be held in Hiroshima from May 19-21. Notably, Japan assumed the G7 Presidency in 2023.

The Summit is an international forum held annually for the leaders of the G7 member states of France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada (in order of rotating presidency), and the European Union (EU).

Members of the Indian diaspora in Japan gathered at a hotel in Hiroshima as PM Modi arrived in the city on Friday. They cheered “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”. They also raised slogans hailing PM Modi.

Notably, the G7 grouping comprises Japan, Italy, Canada, France, the US, the UK and Germany. Japan under its G7 Presidency has invited leaders from Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Vietnam.

India has been invited as a guest country for the G7 summit. The broad terms of the G7 summit preferences regarding their outreach with the invited guest countries are nuclear disarmament, economic resilience and economic security, regional issues, climate and energy and food and health and development. (ANI)

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Modi Shares Hug With Biden At G7 Summit In Japan

By LokMarg 20th May 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden greeted each other warmly and shared a hug as they met in Hiroshima, Japan on Saturday.

The meeting between the two leaders comes ahead of the third in-person summit of leaders of the Quad summit later today. PM Modi is attending the G7 Summit under the Japanese Presidency at the invitation of PM Fumio Kishida.
The meeting with Biden today comes ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s official State visit to the US from June 21 to 24, where he will be hosted by US President Biden at the White House.

Meanwhile, earlier today PM Modi was welcomed by his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida as he arrived for the Working Session 6 of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima.

PM Modi who arrived in Japan a day ago reviewed the full range of relations between India and Japan during his bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida earlier today.

The two leaders also discussed the focus areas of India’s G20 Presidency and Japan’s G7 Presidency towards making the planet better.

The two leaders discussed ways to synergise efforts of their respective G-20 and G-7 Presidencies. Prime Minister stressed the need to highlight the concerns and priorities of Global South.

According to officials, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Tokyo, notably, this is the first in-person meeting between the two leaders after the Russia-Ukraine war started on February 24, 2022.

The Ukrainian president is attending the summit on an invitation by Japan, the current chair of the powerful grouping.

Since the Ukraine conflict began, PM Modi has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Zelenskyy several times.

Japan is hosting the G7 summit as the current chair of the powerful grouping. PM Modi will be in Hiroshima for the G7 summit from May 19 to May 21. He is expected to speak on global challenges, including food, fertiliser and energy security.

Earlier on Saturday US President Biden along with G7 leaders on Saturday toured a 1,400-year-old shrine in Hiroshima, Japan, the White House said. (ANI)

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Modi To Hold Bilateral Meeting With Zelenskyy On Saturday

By LokMarg 19th May 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Tokyo tomorrow.

Notably, this is the first in-person meeting between the two leaders after the Russia-Ukraine war started on February 24 last year.
The Ukrainian president is attending the summit on an invitation by Japan, the current chair of the powerful grouping.

Since the Ukraine conflict began, PM Modi has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as President Zelenskyy a number of times.

New Delhi has sought a diplomatic solution to the conflict while Modi, in comments seen as mildly critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin, told him in September that now was “not an era of war”.

Prime Minister Modi’s appeal to President Putin for a “cessation of violence” and for all sides to return to the dialogue table was certainly a notch up from India’s earlier explicitly neutral stance, and carried a hint of the compulsions to get off the fence, though still largely maintaining a balance.

PM Modi’s phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin underlined that Delhi will for now stick to a path of strategic ambivalence on the Ukraine crisis. This is a pragmatic choice, one that reflects the complexities of a realist world and Delhi’s own positions on territorial integrity and sovereignty, its own concerns about its unresolved borders, it’s a difficult relationship with its two northern neighbours.

In a phone conversation with President Zelenskyy on October 4 last year, PM Modi said there can be “no military solution” and that India is ready to contribute to any peace efforts.

India has maintained that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

PM Modi is in Japan to attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit. The prime minister is visiting the East Asian country at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida.

Notably, PM Modi will hold bilateral meetings with Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and France ahead of the Quad Summit, tomorrow.

He will meet Yoon Suk Yeol, President of the Republic of Korea; Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Vietnam; and Emmanuel Macron, President of France. (ANI)

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Want Neighbourly Relations, However…Modi On India-Pak Ties

By LokMarg 19th May 2023

India wants “normal and neighbourly relations” with Pakistan but it is incumbent on Islamabad to create a conducive environment free from terrorism and to take necessary steps, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in an interview with Nikkei Asia.

PM Modi said India wants normal bilateral ties with Pakistan, adding that “it is incumbent upon them to create a conducive environment free from terrorism and hostilities. The onus is on Pakistan to take necessary steps in this regard”.
India has repeatedly raised its concern over Pakistan’s support to cross-border terrorism and has asserted that terror and talks cannot go together.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto had attended the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Goa earlier this month but there were no bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

PM Modi’s interview to Nikkei Asia, which is part of Nikkei, one of Asia’s largest independent business media groups, has come ahead of G7 Summit in Japan, happening at a time of increasing global challenges.

During the interview, the Prime Minister also answered queries related to ties with China and spoke about India’s efforts to amplify the voices and concerns of the Global South.

“India is fully prepared and committed to protect its sovereignty and dignity,” PM Modi said.

A standoff erupted with China in Eastern Ladakh in the summer of 2020 following actions of the Chinese army and while talks have led to disengagement from some areas, some friction points remain.

“Peace and tranquillity in the border areas are essential for normal bilateral ties with China. The future development of India-China relationship can only be based on mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests,” PM Modi said, noting that “normalizing” the ties would benefit the wider region and the world.

PM Modi on Friday reached Hiroshima in Japan to attend the G7 Summit. India has been invited as a guest country for the Summit. India has been participating in the G7 Summit since 2003.

Asked whether India can play a mediator role in Russia-Ukraine conflict, PM Modi said his country’s position on the Ukraine conflict “is clear and unwavering.”

“India stands on the side of peace and will remain firmly there. We are committed to supporting those who face challenges in meeting their basic needs, especially in the face of rising costs of food, fuel, and fertilizers. We maintain communication with both Russia and Ukraine,” PM Modi said, adding that “cooperation and collaboration should define our times, not conflict”.

PM Modi said that Japan and India’s shared values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law have naturally brought them closer.

“We now see a growing convergence in our political, strategic, security, and economic interests,” he said in the interview, which was conducted partly in writing and partly in person.

PM Modi also vowed to “amplify the voices and concerns of the Global South” nations at the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, as he strives to “foster synergy” with the broader Group of 20. India holds G20 presidency and will host the summit later this year.

PM Modi told Nikkei Asia that he was looking forward to discussing global changes and challenges in areas such as energy, digital technology and supply chains.

“I will emphasize India’s role as a reliable partner in addressing these challenges,” he said, adding that India’s experience would “resonate strongly at the meeting.” (ANI)

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Modi Arrives In Hiroshima To a Attend G7 Summit

By LokMarg 19th May 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Hiroshima, Japan on Friday to attend the G7 Summit.

PM Modi is attending the G7 Summit under the Japanese Presidency at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Hiroshima in the first leg of PM Modi’s three-nation visit during which he will also visit Papua New Guinea and Australia.

During his visit, PM Modi is likely to have a series of bilateral meetings including with Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said on Friday that there is a plan for Quad leaders meeting in Hiroshima. The Quad meeting, which was scheduled to be held in Australia, was cancelled after US President Joe Biden deferred his visit due to the crucial debt-ceiling talks in Washington.

In his departure statement, PM Modi said his presence at the G7 Summit is particularly meaningful as India this year holds the G20 Presidency. G7 Summit will be held in Japan’s Hiroshima from May 19-21.

“I look forward to exchanging views with the G7 countries and other invited partners on challenges that the world faces and the need to collectively address them. I would also be holding bilateral meetings with some of the leaders attending the Hiroshima G7 Summit,” he added.

After concluding his visit to Japan, PM Modi will travel to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

It will be PM Modi’s first visit, as also the first-ever visit by any Indian Prime Minister, to Papua New Guinea.

PM Modi will jointly host the 3rd Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC III Summit) with his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape on May 22.

FIPIC had been launched during PM Modi’s visit to Fiji in 2014.

Apart from the FIPIC engagements, PM Modi will also have bilateral interactions with Papua New Guinea Governor General Sir Bob Dadae, Prime Minister Marape and some of the other PIC Leaders participating in the Summit.

After his visit to Papua New Guinea, PM Modi will travel to Sydney at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. During his visit, he will interact with Australian CEOs and business leaders. PM Modi will also interact with the Indian community at a special event in Sydney. (ANI)

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Modi Leaves For Japan In First Leg Of Three-Nation Visit

By LokMarg 19th May 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday left for Japan to attend the G7 Summit in Hiroshima in the first leg of his three-nation visit during which he will also visit Papua New Guinea and Australia.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Hiroshima.

“I will leave for Hiroshima, Japan to attend the G7 Summit under the Japanese Presidency at the invitation of Mr. Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan. It will be a pleasure to meet Prime Minister Kishida again after his recent visit to India for the India – Japan Summit. My presence in this G7 Summit is particularly meaningful as India holds the G20 Presidency this year,” the statement said.

this year,” the statement said.

After concluding his visit to Japan, PM Modi will travel to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

It will be PM Modi’s first visit, as also the first-ever visit by any Indian Prime Minister, to Papua New Guinea.

PM Modi will jointly host the 3rd Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC III Summit) with his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape on May 22.

FIPIC had been launched during PM Modi’s visit to Fiji in 2014.

PM Modi said in a series of tweets that he is looking forward to productive deliberations during his visit to three countries.

“Leaving for Japan, where I will be joining the @G7 Summit in Hiroshima. Looking forward to a healthy exchange of views on diverse global subjects.

“After the Japan visit, will be in Papua New Guinea to take part in the FIPIC Summit, a vital forum to boost multilateral cooperation. There will be productive deliberations on subjects such as sustainable development, climate change, healthcare and more,” he said.

“I will be in Australia, where I will be holding talks with my friend, PM @AlboMP. This visit will further cement the India- Australia friendship. I also look forward to interacting with the vibrant Indian community and meeting top Australian CEOs,” he added.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that PM Modi’s visit is an opportunity to engage with important partners in multilateral and bilateral formats.

“PM @narendramodi embarks on a visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea & Australia. First leg of the visit takes him to Japan for the @G7 Summit. An opportunity to engage with important partners in multilateral and bilateral formats,” he said in a tweet. (ANI)

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Modi To Inaugurate New Parliament Building On May 28

By LokMarg 18th May 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on May 28 dedicate to the nation the newly-constructed Parliament building.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met the Prime Minister on Thursday and invited him to inaugurate the New Parliament Building.
A Lok Sabha release said that construction of the New Parliament Building in the national capital has been completed and it symbolises the spirit of self-reliant India.

The present building of the Parliament was completed in 1927 which is now going to be almost 100 years old.

“The lack of space was being experienced in this building as per the present requirements. In both the Houses, there was also a lack of convenient arrangements for the sitting of the MPs which was affecting the efficiency of the work of the members,” the release said.

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed resolutions urging the government to construct a new building for the Parliament.

The foundation stone of the new building of Parliament was laid by Prime Minister Modi on December 10, 2020.

The newly constructed Parliament building has been built “in record time with quality construction”.

The release said that the newly-constructed building of Parliament, which will further enrich India’s glorious democratic traditions and constitutional values, is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities which will help the Members to perform their functions in a better way.

It said 888 members will be able to sit in the Lok Sabha.

In the present building of the Parliament, there is a provision for the sitting of 543 Members in the Lok Sabha while 250 in the Rajya Sabha.

Keeping in view the future requirements, arrangements have been made for a meeting of 888 members in the Lok Sabha while 384 members in the Rajya Sabha in the newly constructed building of the Parliament. The joint session of both the Houses will be held in Lok Sabha Chamber. (ANI)

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Modi To Flag Off Puri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express Today

By LokMarg 18th May 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the Vande Bharat Express between Puri and Howrah today via video conferencing.

The ultra-modern semi-high-speed train is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities.
According to Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the train will pass through Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore districts in Odisha and Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur districts in West Bengal. The train will provide a faster, more comfortable and convenient travel experience to passengers, boost tourism and promote economic development in the region.

Last month, the railways conducted the trial run of Vande Bharat Express, India’s indigenously designed semi-high-speed train, between Howrah and Puri on Friday.

PM Modi will lay the foundation stone and dedicate several railway projects worth more than Rs 8,000 crore in Odisha via video conferencing on Thursday.

Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for Puri and Cuttack railway station redevelopment. The redeveloped stations will have all modern amenities providing a world-class experience to the rail passengers, said PMO statement.

Prime Minister will dedicate 100 per cent electrification of the rail network in Odisha. This will reduce the operating and maintenance cost and reduce reliance on imported crude oil.

PM Modi will also dedicate the doubling of the Sambalpur-Titlagarh rail line; a new broad gauge rail line between Angul-Sukinda; the third line connecting Manoharpur-Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Jamga and a new broad-gauge line between Bichhupali-Jhartarbha. These will cater to the increased traffic demands as a result of rapid industrial development in steel, power and mining sectors in Odisha and will also help ease the pressure on passenger traffic in these rail sections, said the PMO statement. (ANI)

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