Fico Meets Indian Premier Modi in Bratislava

Bratislava, 15 June (TASR) - Slovak Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) welcomed Indian Premier Narendra Modi at Bratislava Castle on Monday. This is the first-ever official visit to be paid by an Indian premier to Slovakia. The two leaders are scheduled to hold bilateral talks. During the visit, they are expected to sign several agreements and memoranda of understanding. "The political dialogue, economic cooperation and friendship between our nations have reached their highest level since Slovakia gained independence. During the meeting, the premiers will discuss the further development of Slovak-Indian bilateral relations and the possibility of elevating mutual cooperation to a strategic partnership," said the Government Office. Modi will also meet Slovak President Peter Pellegrini in Bratislava. Slovak-Indian cooperation in the field of trade and investment will be high on the agenda of their talks, with bilateral trade reaching €1.6 billion in 2025. The President's Office added that the Indian premier will fly directly from Slovakia to France for the G7 Summit, with Slovakia being the only Central European country on his tour. Former international affairs minister and foreign-political analyst Pavol Demes noted that Modi's visit represents the culmination of more than three decades of relationship-building between the independent Slovak Republic and India. At the same time, he views the visit by the premier of the world's most populous country as an opportunity for Slovakia to position itself among countries that want to be part of a growing partnership between Europe and India in the 21st century. ko/df