Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Apulia, Italy, on Thursday to participate in the G7 Summit's Outreach session. This visit marks his first international trip since beginning his third term in office.

In a tweet, PM Modi expressed his enthusiasm for the summit, highlighting the importance of productive discussions with global leaders to address international challenges and enhance cooperation.

Before his departure, PM Modi expressed his pleasure that his inaugural foreign visit in his third term was to Italy for the G7 Summit.

PM Modi's Agenda at the G7 Summit

According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who shared a video message from Brindisi airport, PM Modi's Friday schedule includes addressing the Outreach session and conducting several bilateral meetings with other world leaders.

PM Modi emphasized that India's focus during the summit will be on artificial intelligence, energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean region, alongside issues crucial to the Global South.

The summit in Apulia, hosted by Italy under the presidency of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, follows India's hosting of the G20 Summit in Delhi last September. Italy invited India as an outreach country to the G7, making this PM Modi’s fifth consecutive participation in the summit. India has attended ten previous G7 summits.

During the summit, PM Modi is set to hold bilateral talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and is likely to meet US President Joe Biden, as indicated by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict is expected to be a major topic of discussion, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in attendance. While the UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is calling for decisive support for Ukraine, India maintains its stance on dialogue and diplomacy as the best approach, as reiterated by PM Modi in September 2022.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra noted that India will continue to share its perspectives with world leaders during the summit.

In her opening address, Italian Prime Minister Meloni stated that southern Italy was chosen as the summit's venue to send a significant message to the Global South. Attendees include G7 leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the US, along with EU leaders and representatives from 11 developing countries across Africa, South America, and the Indo-Pacific region.