Daijiworld Media Network- Kananaskis
Kananaskis, Jun 18: In a moment that captured both diplomatic warmth and social media attention, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the 51st G7 Summit, held at the scenic Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Alberta, Canada. The leaders exchanged greetings and held a brief conversation, further reinforcing the growing friendship between India and Italy.
PM Modi expressed optimism about the strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations, asserting that collaborative efforts in sectors such as energy, industry, and sustainability will benefit both countries. Their brief interaction sparked a flurry of interest online, with the hashtag #Melodi—a portmanteau of their names—once again trending on social media.
The camaraderie between Modi and Meloni has gained popularity ever since their selfie at the COP28 summit in Dubai, captioned by the Italian PM as “Good friends at COP28, #Melodi.” Their warm exchange during the G20 summit in New Delhi had also gone viral, with playful internet users creating light-hearted videos featuring Bollywood soundtracks.
PM Modi’s presence at the G7 marks his sixth consecutive participation in the summit and his first visit to Canada in nearly a decade. He was received with ceremonial honours at Calgary airport and welcomed at the summit venue by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The visit forms part of PM Modi’s three-nation diplomatic tour, which began with Cyprus and will conclude in Croatia.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi wrote, “Landed in Calgary, Canada, to take part in the G7 Summit. Will be meeting various leaders at the Summit and sharing my thoughts on important global issues. Will also be emphasising the priorities of the Global South.”
According to Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, PM Modi is expected to participate in high-level discussions focusing on energy security, technological diversification, and sustainable development. He is also scheduled to hold multiple bilateral meetings with global leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
The G7 Summit, an influential platform of world leaders from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, and the European Union, continues to address pressing global challenges. PM Modi’s participation is seen as a significant step in advocating for the Global South and reaffirming India’s role on the world stage.