Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday concluded his visit to Sweden, saying the outcomes of the trip would add “new momentum” to bilateral ties, before departing for Norway for the third India-Nordic Summit and bilateral meetings.
In a post on X, PM Modi said: “My visit to Sweden was marked by several important outcomes that will add new momentum to India-Sweden relations. From elevating our ties to a Strategic Partnership, launching the Joint Innovation Partnership 2.0 and the India-Sweden Technology and Artificial Intelligence Corridor, to setting an ambitious goal of doubling bilateral trade in the next five years, the discussions were highly productive.”
The PM also thanked Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, the Swedish government and the people of Sweden for the welcome extended during the visit.
Briefing reporters in Gothenburg, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Sibi George said the visit reflected growing strategic convergence between the two countries.
“This is the Prime Minister’s second bilateral visit to Sweden after his landmark visit in 2018, when Sweden hosted the first India-Nordic Summit in Stockholm. The 2018 visit laid a solid foundation for India-Nordic relations and India-Sweden bilateral ties under the Innovation Partnership,” George said.
“The current visit reflects the growing strategic convergence between India and Sweden and the importance both countries attach to political and strategic dialogue, trade and investment, innovation-led growth, trusted partnerships to build resilient supply chains, defence cooperation, green transition, sustainability, emerging technologies, digitalisation, and people-to-people ties,” he added.
During the visit, the PM also held wide-ranging talks with Swedish business leaders.
“We had wide-ranging conversations with the business leaders on how economic linkages between India and Sweden can be enhanced, particularly in futuristic technologies, R&D, AI, security and healthcare,” PM Modi said in another X post.
Additionally, the PM met Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, who conferred upon him the ‘Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross’ — Sweden’s highest honour for foreign Heads of Government — during a ceremony in Gothenburg.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the India-Nordic Summit in Oslo and hold bilateral talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre during his visit to Norway on May 18 and 19, the fourth leg of his five-nation tour.
(ANI)
