Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed ways to enhance bilateral economic cooperation and address the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi and Sunak agreed to work together to strengthen trade and investment ties, promote innovation and technology collaboration, and support green growth and sustainable development. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the Indo-Pacific region, Afghanistan, and counter-terrorism.
Modi appreciated the UK’s presidency of the G7 this year and its initiatives on Covid-19 recovery, health security, and climate action. He also invited Sunak to visit India at an early date.
The meeting between Modi and Sunak was the first bilateral engagement of the Indian prime minister at the G7 summit, where he is participating as a guest of Japan. Modi is also expected to meet with other leaders of the G7 countries and the Quad, a grouping of India, Japan, Australia, and the US.
The G7 summit is being held in Hiroshima, the location of the world’s first atomic attack at the end of World War II. The summit aims to showcase the unity and solidarity of the world’s leading democracies in addressing global challenges such as Covid-19, climate change, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.