Rome, June 18 (UNI) India on Monday reaffirmed strong commitment to take bilateral relations with Italy to newer heights.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj conveyed this when she met her Italian counterpart Enzo Moavero Milanesi here.
"Reaffirming strong commitment to take our relationship forward! EAM Sushma Swaraj met with Foreign Minister of Italy Enzo Moavero Milanesi," MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
Both the Ministers reviewed "all aspects of our bilateral relationship" and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, he said.
Ms Swaraj also called on Prime Minister of Italy Prof. Giuseppe Conte and congratulated him on assuming the high position.
"Discussions focused on forging bilateral cooperation across sectors & steps to revitalize our bilateral relationship," MEA spokesman said.
Meanwhile, an official release said recognizing the need to sustain the momentum generated by the visit of Former Italian Prime Minister Gentiloni to India in October 2017, both the Ministers emphasized the importance of promoting regular high level contacts and bilateral dialogue mechanisms.
"They welcomed the celebrations in both countries to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations and agreed to work together to build a robust and wide-ranging partnership covering political consultations, trade and commerce, science & technology, culture and people to people ties," the statement said.
Outlining the reforms undertaken by India to promote ease of doing business and liberalize FDI, Ms Swaraj highlighted the tremendous scope for enhancing bilateral trade and investment in sectors like infrastructure, food processing and renewable energy.
To augment collaboration in areas of mutual benefit, the Ministers agreed to hold the next meeting of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) in India later this year.
Both the leaders welcomed the growing India-Italy convergence on contemporary global issues and agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in multilateral forums.
Ms Swaraj extended an invitation to Minister Milanesi to visit India at a mutually convenient time.
MEA spokesman further said that at the end of her visit to Italy, Ms Swaraj left for Paris for the second leg of her four-nation official visit.
The External Affairs Minister will also Luxembourg and Belgium. Her engagements with four European nation leaders and the top leadership of the European Union is likely to deepen India’s strategic engagement and trade ties in the region.
In Brussels, Ms. Swaraj will meet the top leadership of the European Union likely to deliberate on removing hurdles for resumption of negotiations on the long-pending EU-India free trade pact.
On June 21, she will participate at International Day for Yoga in Brussels.
UNI DEVN SHK 1819