Describing India as a major global power, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever emphasized further strengthening bilateral cooperation in economic and strategic areas. De Wever described India as the world’s largest democracy and fastest-growing economy, calling it an important partner.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Bart De Wever at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Thursday. This meeting marked an important diplomatic milestone, as it marked the first visit by a Belgian Prime Minister to India in 20 years. During the meeting, the two leaders held extensive discussions on the entire spectrum of bilateral relations as well as important regional and global issues of mutual interest. Earlier in the day, the Belgian Prime Minister paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, by laying a wreath at Rajghat in the capital.
In a joint statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Belgian Prime Minister said that visiting India as the Prime Minister of Belgium for the first time in 20 years holds special significance for him. This is a very long time. India has undergone tremendous change in these 20 years, and certainly under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India has also undergone significant transformation. Today, you are not only the world’s largest democracy, but also the fastest-growing major economy. It has become an economic and technological powerhouse and a major geopolitical force, with a voice that reaches far beyond the region.
He also said that Belgium also has a lot to offer India. We may be small in size, but we are one of the world’s most open and internationally connected economies. We have built our prosperity on trade and access to global markets. Despite having a population of 11 million and a country 100 times smaller than India, we have become the 25th largest economy in the world. We have developed world-class expertise in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, semiconductors, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and logistics. All the topics we discussed are topics of mutual cooperation and development.
Outlining the broad objectives of the Belgian Prime Minister’s diplomatic visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement that the visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen the India-Belgium partnership and advance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment, defense and security, technology, renewable energy, connectivity, and people-to-people contacts.