The President of Switzerland, Guy Parmelin, held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Monday. This meeting is part of high-level diplomatic activities in New Delhi.
Beginning of the Official Visit of the President of Switzerland
At the start of the day, President Parmelin participated in an official wreath-laying ceremony at Raj Ghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. His wife, Caroline Parmelin, was also present at this ceremony. India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, also engaged in discussions with the President of Switzerland during this meeting. He mentioned in a post on the social media platform X that the meeting with Parmelin would strengthen bilateral relations and continue cooperation under the framework of the India-EFTA trade and economic cooperation agreement.
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Strengthening Cooperation and Bilateral Relations
During this meeting, the President of Switzerland emphasized that his visit to India is considered a "cornerstone" for strengthening a "close and long-term partnership" between the two countries. He stated in a conversation with reporters after the welcoming ceremony: "This visit is a great opportunity to emphasize the importance of relations between Switzerland and India."
Parmelin also noted that diplomatic relations between the two countries are based on "shared democratic values and mutual trust and respect." He added: "My visit is a cornerstone for the growth and consolidation of our close and broad partnership, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to exchange views on bilateral and global issues."
The President of Switzerland also recalled the one-year anniversary of the implementation of the India-EFTA trade and economic cooperation agreement. This agreement includes EFTA member countries such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland and was established to facilitate trade and investment between these countries and India.
President Parmelin is visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi, and his agenda includes a meeting with the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, as well as attending the third India-EFTA Welfare Summit on October 7. This meeting is seen as an opportunity to strengthen economic and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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