New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni and extended his greetings on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of Italy's Liberation Day. The Indian leader also thanked Meloni for the invite to the G7 Summit Outreach Sessions scheduled in June in Italy's Puglia, according to an official statement.

Both leaders also discussed taking forward the important outcomes from India’s G20 Presidency, especially those that support the Global South, at the G7 Summit under Italy’s Presidency. They reaffirmed their commitment to continue to strengthen the bilateral Strategic partnership. The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest, read the notice.

"Spoke with PM @GiorgiaMeloni and extended greetings as Italy celebrates its Liberation day today. Thanked her for the invite to the G7 Summit in June. Discussed taking forward  #G20India outcomes at the G7. Reaffirmed commitment to deepening our Strategic Partnership," said PM Modi on X.

PM Modi last met Meloni on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai, where he said he looks forward to India-Italy collaborative efforts for a sustainable, prosperous future. Meloni also posted a selfie of her with the Indian PM, captioned #Melodi (an online trend reflecting the growing friendship between the two leaders), which broke the internet at the time.

Some individuals took a jibe at the Italian connection of Congress leader and jokingly suggested that Prime Minister Modi should invite Giorgia Meloni to India for his 2024 Lok Sabha campaign, providing a humorous response to "an Italian by an Italian." Notably, Rahul Gandhi’s mother, , was reportedly born in a small village near Italy’s Vicenza. 

Meloni and PM Modi also held a bilateral meeting in September last year on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. During the bilateral meeting in New Delhi, PM Modi appreciated Italy's support for India's G20 Presidency and Italy's joining of the Global Biofuel Alliance and the India - Middle East - Europe Economic Corridor.

The two leaders noted with satisfaction the completion of 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. They also took stock of the progress in diverse areas of the India-Italy Strategic Partnership and agreed to bolster cooperation in areas like defence and new and emerging technologies. They noted the need for G7 and G20 to work in consonance with the greater global good. 

(with inputs from ANI)

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