Prime Minister Narendra Modi emplaned for New Delhi in the wee hours of Saturday as the G7 Summit in Italy concluded, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on X.
Later, PM Modi said he, along with other leaders of the world, aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community.
“Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations. I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality,” PM Modi wrote on X.
On Friday, the Prime Minister, addressing an outreach session of the Summit in Italy, highlighted technological advances, Artificial Intelligence, India’s role in the global south and the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.
He stressed the necessity of democratising technology by ensuring it reaches all sections of society.
“We have to collectively ensure that the benefits of technology reach all sections, highlight the potential of every person in society, help in removing social inequalities, and expand human capabilities instead of limiting them. This should not only be our desire but our responsibility,” he said, speaking at the session on Artificial Intelligence and Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean.
The Prime Minister highlighted that India is among the first few countries to formulate a National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence and launched the AI Mission this year with the mantra, “AI for All”.
He further said, “The countries of the Global South are bearing the brunt of global uncertainties and tensions” and “India has considered it its responsibility to put the priorities and concerns of the countries of the Global South on the world stage”.
On combating climate change, PM Modi stressed that India was “the first country to fulfil all the commitments made under COP before time,” adding that “we are making every effort to fulfil our commitment to achieve the target of Net Zero by 2070”.
PM Modi mentioned the Lok Sabah elections and said, “The entire electoral process has been made fair and transparent by the ubiquitous use of technology”. Referring to his return to power for the third time, PM Modi said “It is the victory of the entire democratic world”.
Earlier today, the Prime Minister held separate bilateral meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the event. PM Modi met French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He also met his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni at the venue of the summit and both leaders greeted each other with namaste gestures and briefly exchanged greetings.
Additionally, PM Modi greeted Pope Francis at the venue. He invited the Pope to visit India and said he admired his commitment to serving people and making the world better.
PM Modi arrived in Italy’s Apulia earlier on Friday to attend the outreach session of the G7 Summit.
This was the Prime Minister’s first foreign trip after being sworn in for a record third term.
PM MODI AT G7 SUMMIT: HIGHLIGHTS
PM Modi and Macron discussed ways to further strengthen partnership including in areas of defence, nuclear, space, education, climate action, digital public infrastructure, critical technologies, connectivity and culture, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
Both leaders agreed to further intensify strategic defence cooperation with increased focus on ‘Make in India’, the MEA said in a statement.
During PM Modi’s meeting with Rishi Sunak, the leaders talked about the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, enhancing industrial cooperation in the defence sector, boosting trade and commerce, and more, the External Affairs Ministry said.
PM Modi and Zelenskyy “reviewed the bilateral relationship and exchanged views on situation in Ukraine. PM conveyed that India continues to encourage peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy,” according to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
The Prime Minister called it a “very productive meeting” and said “India is eager to further cement bilateral relations with Ukraine”.
PM Modi met his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau, their first face-to-face meeting after Trudeau claimed that Indian government agents were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year.
PM Modi also addressed an outreach session of the G7 Summit.
PM Modi also met Pope Francis as he arrived for the Outreach Session of the G7 Summit. He hugged the Pope and briefly greeted him. The Prime Minister is likely to have a separate meeting with the Pope on the sidelines of the summit.
The Prime Minister also participated in a summit session entitled Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa-Mediterranean to be hosted by Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and joined by Pope Francis.
Italy extended an invitation to India to attend the summit as an outreach country. This was PM Modi’s fifth consecutive participation in the G7 summit, with India having attended ten previous summits. As the current Chair of the G7, Italy is hosting the gathering of the bloc of seven major advanced economies, including Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the US, along with the European Union.
On Friday, the second day of the three-day summit, world leaders discussed issues of migration followed by the Indo-Pacific and economic security. The Russia-Ukraine conflict was dominating the agenda on Thursday, where India has reiterated its stance on “dialogue and diplomacy” as the best approach.
In her opening address on Thursday at the meeting of the G7 leaders, Meloni said southern Italy was chosen as the venue to send a strong message to the Global South. On Friday’s talks, she said, “We will be discussing the importance of our increased focus on the Indo-Pacific”.
Besides India, Italy invited leaders from 11 developing countries in Africa, South America and the Indo-Pacific region to attend the G7 Summit. Heads of the governments of Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Jordan, Kenya, and Mauritania – in its capacity as chair of the African Union, Tunisia, Turkey and the UAE are among the other outreach nations joining India at the summit.