Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun his official visit to Italy with a dinner meeting hosted by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome. The visit comes ahead of formal bilateral talks aimed at strengthening cooperation across trade, defence and strategic ties…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun his official visit to Italy, meeting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at a dinner in Rome ahead of formal bilateral talks aimed at strengthening India-Italy relations.
He arrived in Rome on the final leg of a five-nation tour and was received at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani. The visit also includes engagements with Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
Following his arrival, Modi attended a dinner hosted by Meloni and later visited the iconic Colosseum. In a post on social media platform X, he said: “Upon landing in Rome, had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Meloni over dinner followed by a visit to the iconic Colosseum. We exchanged perspectives on a wide range of subjects. Looking forward to our talks today, where we will continue the conversation on how to boost the India-Italy friendship.”
Meloni welcomed the Indian leader warmly, posting on X: “Welcome to Rome, my friend!”
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the leaders are scheduled to hold bilateral talks at Villa Doria Pamphili, where a joint declaration is expected to be adopted to further deepen the India-Italy strategic partnership.
The MEA said both countries are working under the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029, which outlines cooperation in trade, investment, defence, clean energy, innovation, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges. It noted that bilateral trade has reached USD 16.77 billion in 2025, while cumulative foreign direct investment stood at USD 3.66 billion between April 2000 and September 2025.
“A comprehensive road map for cooperation in various sectors, including in bilateral trade, which reached USD 16.77 billion in 2025; boosting investment, which has recorded a cumulative FDI of USD 3.66 billion (April 2000-September 2025); defence and security; clean energy; innovation; science and technology; and people-to-people ties,” the MEA stated.
The ministry added that the visit would add momentum to India’s engagement with Europe, particularly in trade and investment, following the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement.
PM Modi last visited Italy in June 2024 for the G7 Summit.
The visit is expected to provide further political direction to the strategic partnership between New Delhi and Rome, with both sides emphasising sustained engagement across government, business and cultural links. It comes amid broader efforts by India to deepen cooperation with European partners on trade, technology and security and follows a series of high-level exchanges in recent years. The engagements in Rome are also seen as reinforcing diplomatic momentum between the two capitals, with officials highlighting continuity in dialogue at leadership level.
The Colosseum visit formed part of the informal engagements during the trip, alongside the dinner hosted by the Italian Prime Minister in Rome.
The Joint Strategic Action Plan continues to serve as a framework for long-term cooperation between the two countries.
Officials said talks will continue in due course thereafter.
