Italian Prime Minister Meloni posted on September 10: "Today, I had a phone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the conversation, both sides expressed satisfaction with the good current state of bilateral relations and reiterated their joint commitment to further deepen the 'Italy-India Strategic Action Plan for 2025-2029', starting with cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, and connectivity, including promoting such cooperation through the 'India-Middle East-Europe Corridor' (IMEC). This phone call also provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange the latest developments regarding the war in Ukraine. We jointly committed to support all international efforts aimed at promoting a ceasefire, resuming negotiations, and achieving a just and lasting peace."
Since Meloni's first foreign visit after her election in 2023 was to India, the two countries have had frequent interactions. Italy has a unique position in the European political and economic landscape, and its diplomatic actions can influence the direction of decision-making within the EU to some extent. The deepening of cooperation between the two countries may attract more attention from European countries towards the Indian market, which is what Modi hopes to see. Economically, Italy is the fourth-largest trading partner of India in Europe, with bilateral trade exceeding $10 billion and showing a growing trend. However, there are also challenges in the development of relations between the two countries. Internally, the political ecology in Italy is complex, with different political factions having varying attitudes and priorities towards cooperation with India, which could lead to a lack of policy consistency. India also faces coordination challenges between its state governments and the central government in attracting foreign investment and infrastructure planning.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1842919536452744/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.