AMN / WEB DESK
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that India and Sweden can further improve their relationship in innovation, technology, investment, startups and research.
He said that India’s culture has always stressed importance on living in harmony with nature. He said, the country is moving ahead on its commitments made under the Paris Agreement.
Holding a virtual summit with his Swedish counterpart Stefan Löfven today, Mr. Modi said, during COVID -19 pandemic, we realized the importance of cooperation at both regional and global level. He added that India has provided medicines and other essentials to over 150 countries while the world was fighting the pandemic.
The Prime Minister said, till now, India has delivered Made In India vaccines to nearly 50 countries across the globe.
The Prime Minister also said, Smart cities, water treatment, waste management, circular economy, smart grids, e-mobility, digital transformation and several other sectors have potential where the two countries can deepen the partnership.
Swedish PM in a statement said that he had an Excellent, productive virtual Sweden-India Summit with PM Nrendra Modi.
“Launched joint projects on innovation, climate & health cooperation to fight the pandemic & build back stronger, greener & more equal societies. Discussed regional affairs & efforts to strengthen multilateralism” he said in a tweet.
Later Briefing media, Secretary (West) External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup said this was the fifth interaction between the leaders since 2015. Mr Swarup said, the regular high level interactions between the two countries reflect the strong commitment on both sides for deepening the multi faceted partnership. During the Summit, both leaders emphasized that the longstanding close relations between India and Sweden are based on the shared values of democracy, rule of law, pluralism, equality, freedom of speech, and respect for human rights. They reaffirmed their strong commitment to work for multilateralism, rules based international order, counter terrorism, peace and security. Mr Swarup said, this partnership is rooted in common values intensifying collaboration in innovation, research and development, clean technologies, trade and investment, and cooperation in meeting global challenges like climate change.
Prime Minister Modi expressed concern at the violent attack in Sweden on the 3rd of March and wished speedy recovery to the victims. The Swedish Prime Minister announced the decision of Sweden to join the International Solar Alliance. Welcoming the decision, Prime Minister Modi stated that Sweden’s expertise and experience in clean and renewable technologies would contribute significantly to the solar alliance and collective efforts to meet the challenges of climate change. Both leaders also stressed the need for vaccine equity.
The two countries issued a Joint Statement and agreed to continue their outreach to expand the membership of the Leadership Group on Industry Transition. They also agreed that Indo-Swedish Joint Commission on Economic, Industrial and Scientific Cooperation will present proposals under the Joint Action Plan and Joint Innovation Partnership on further cooperation in innovation, health, and green recovery at its next meeting.
Both nations welcomed the India-Sweden Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme on Smart Grids.