PM Modi calls upcoming Austria visit ‘historic’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that it will be a “historic occasion” and an honor to visit Austria for the first time next week, marking 75 years of bilateral diplomatic relations between the two nations.
PM Modi’s visit to Austria on July 9 and 10 will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 41 years.
In a tweet, PM Modi tagged Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and expressed his desire to strengthen India-Austria relations and explore new avenues of cooperation.
“Thank you, Chancellor @karlnehammer. It is indeed an honour to visit Austria to mark this historic occasion. I look forward to our discussions on strengthening the bonds between our nations and exploring new avenues of cooperation. The shared values of democracy, freedom and rule of law form the bedrock upon which we will build an ever closer partnership,” the Prime Minister said.
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Austria describes PM Modi’s visit as a ‘significant milestone’
Modi’s statement came after Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz called PM Modi’s planned maiden visit to the country as a “significant milestone” and an opportunity to discuss deeper collaboration on “many geopolitical challenges”.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had stated that PM Modi will meet Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and speak with the Chancellor. The Prime Minister and Chancellor will also speak to business leaders from India and Austria.
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PM Modi’s Russia visit
PM Modi will first visit Moscow on July 8 and 9, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to attend the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit.
This will be Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to Russia in over five years. He last visited the country in 2019 to attend an important economic summit in Vladivostok, in the Far East.
During the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit, PM Modi and Putin will review the two countries’ multifaceted relations and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which announced the visit on Thursday.
The annual summit between India’s Prime Minister and Russia’s President serves as the highest level of institutional dialogue in the two nations’ strategic cooperation. So far, 21 annual meetings have been held alternately in India and Russia.
The last annual summit took place on December 6, 2021, in Delhi. Putin has travelled to India to attend the summit.
