PM Modi Meets Brazilian President Lula, Reaffirms Cooperation In Energy, Biofuels, Defence

Picture source: PTI

Rio de Janeiro: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties between India and Brazil. 

The two leaders also discussed a wide range of sectors, including energy, biofuels, defence, agriculture, and more, with a focus on improving cooperation. 

Sharing a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "Held talks with President Lula during the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Complimented him on various efforts of Brazil during their G20 Presidency." 

"We took stock of the full range of bilateral ties between our nations and reaffirmed our commitment to improving cooperation in sectors like energy, biofuels, defence, agriculture and more," the post added. 

Meanwhile, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also spoke about the meeting between PM Modi and Brazilian President and said that PM Modi assured India's support to Brazil's initiative of Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty. 

Sharing a post on X, Jaiswal wrote, "India-Brazil -- Building ties with an important Global South partner. PM @narendramodi met President @LulaOficial of Brazil, on the sidelines of the #G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. He thanked President Lula for successfully hosting the #G20 Summit." 

The post added, "PM assured India's full support to Brazil's initiative of 'Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty.' Discussions focused on exploring opportunities for greater cooperation in renewable energy, biofuels, defence, agriculture, healthcare, and digital technology." 

Earlier, PM Modi engaged in crucial bilateral meetings and several interactions. The Prime Minister shared details of his discussions through a series of posts on X, highlighting his engagements with global leaders including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. 

On meeting the European Commission President, PM Modi said, "India will keep working closely with the EU for global good." 

On the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi held an important meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Describing the meeting as "extremely productive," Modi emphasised the significance of India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the UK. "In the coming years, we are eager to work closely in areas such as technology, green energy, security, innovation, and technology. We also want to add strength to trade as well as cultural linkages," PM Modi wrote on social media. 

PM Modi also met with French President Emmanuel Macron, where the two leaders shared a warm embrace and congratulated each other on the successful hosting of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics earlier this year. Their discussions centred around strengthening cooperation in space, energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and other future-oriented sectors. "We talked about how India and France will keep working closely in sectors like space, energy, AI, and other such futuristic areas. Our nations will also work closely to enhance people-to-people linkages," PM Modi shared on X. 

In his meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, PM Modi discussed ways to improve investment linkages, particularly in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and the blue economy. Modi called the meeting "excellent" and highlighted how both nations could enhance cooperation in innovation and research. "Our Arctic Policy has led to further cementing of India-Norway bilateral relations," PM Modi noted. 

Additionally, PM Modi held talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, focusing on strengthening defence, security, trade, and technology ties. Modi underscored the importance of the India-Italy relationship, saying, "India-Italy friendship can greatly contribute to a better planet." 

On the first day of the G20 Summit, PM Modi had a packed schedule, holding bilateral meetings with leaders from the UK, France, Italy, Norway, Portugal, and Indonesia.