PM Modi hopes for productive Greece visit to strengthen bilateral friendship

Prime Minister Narendra Modi being received by Greece`s Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis upon his arrival at Athens International Airport, Greece, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. PTI Photo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his anticipation for productive discussions with the leadership of Greece as he arrived in Athens for a daylong visit, marking the first visit by an Indian premier in 40 years. The visit aims to deepen the bilateral friendship between India and Greece and strengthen their ties.

Modi's visit comes following his attendance at the 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa, during which he engaged in bilateral meetings with various global leaders to enhance India's relations with those nations. He was welcomed at the airport by Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi stated, "Landed in Athens. Looking forward to a productive Greece visit aimed at deepening India-Greece friendship. I will be holding talks with @PrimeministerGR Kyriakos Mitsotakis and also interacting with the Indian community."

"PM @narendramodi sets foot in the historic city of Athens for his first-ever visit to Greece," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a post on X.

"A packed day of engagements lie ahead in Athens. He will lay a wreath at the Tomb of an unknown soldier. He will thereafter meet the President of Greece and hold talks with the Prime Minister of Greece," Bagchi said in the video uploaded alongside the post.

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During his visit, Modi is scheduled to lay a wreath at the Tomb of an Unknown Soldier, hold discussions with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and meet with President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. He will also engage with business leaders from both nations and interact with the Indian community in Greece.

The Indian community in Greece expressed excitement over Modi's visit, welcoming him with cheers and dance performances. They chanted slogans like 'Modi ji ki jai' and danced to the tunes of Bollywood numbers "Chak de' and 'Jai Ho'.

"We expect that in the future Greece and India ties will be strong. So we are expecting this from the prime minister," a community member said.

The visit is seen as a significant step in strengthening ties between India and Greece, with cooperation in areas such as maritime transport, defense, trade and investments, and people-to-people connections. (Agencies)