Prime Minister reiterates defence ties with Sweden

As PM Narendra Modi met his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven in a video conference on Friday, the two leaders noted that defence is an important area of a long-standing collaboration, amid interest shown by Swedish company Saab to manufacture its Gripen fighter aircraft in India.

Officials also said the issue of teen Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg’s recent comments on the farmers’ protests in India are not an issue to bilateral ties, and the matter did not come up during the summit between the Prime Ministers.

Key Highlights

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a virtual summit with his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lfven during which they will deliberate on the entire spectrum of bilateral ties and exchange views on regional and global issues, including further strengthening of cooperation in the post-COVID era.
• India and Sweden have warm and friendly relations based on shared values of democracy, freedom, pluralism and rules-based international order, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.
• Both countries have very close cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, innovation, science and technology as well as research and development, it said.
• During the summit, the two leaders will hold comprehensive discussions on the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global issues, including further strengthening of cooperation in the post-COVID era, the MEA said.
• This will be the fifth interaction between the two leaders since 2015, according to the statement.
• Prime Minister Modi had visited Stockholm in April 2018 for the First India Nordic Summit, while Lfven had visited India in February 2016 for the special Make in India week, it noted.

SOURCE: The Indian Express, Business Standard

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