The eighth session of the India-Italy Foreign Office Consultations was held in Rome, where both countries discussed bilateral relations and agreed that negotiations on the India-EU Free Trade and Investment Agreements should begin as soon as possible, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
Regional and global issues of mutual concern were also discussed, as well as multilateral collaboration at various international fora. They underlined their commitment to improving bilateral, regional, and multilateral consultation and collaboration.
Both sides discussed the full range of bilateral relations during the meeting on Monday, including cooperation in the political, trade and economic, defence, science and technology, energy, health, consular, and cultural spheres, and expressed satisfaction with the renewed momentum in bilateral relations as a result of regular high-level exchanges and shared commitments on both sides to further intensify cooperation in a wide range of areas, according to the ministry.
Italy's interest in implementing the EU's Indo-Pacific guidelines and the India-EU connectivity partnership was welcomed by India. The two Prime Ministers reviewed progress on the Plan of Action agreed upon during the virtual summit in November 2020 and praised the Strategic Partnership on Energy Transition launched by the two Prime Ministers in October 2021, which provides new potential for deepening multifaceted ties.
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