Delhi: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in New Delhi on Thursday to attend the eighth edition of Raisina Dialogue.
The multilateral conference held annually in New Delhi will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will be the chief guest and the keynote speaker at the inaugural session of the eighth Raisina Dialogue, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The Ministry of External Affairs is organising the event in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) from March 2-4.
While welcoming Meloni, Modi said, "I welcome Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on her first visit to India. In last year's elections, the people of Italy voted for her and she became the first woman and youngest PM of Italy. I congratulate her on behalf of Indians for this historic achievement."
He said that this year India and Italy are celebrating the 75th anniversary of their bilateral relationship adding that India will further strengthen its relationship with Italy in the fields of renewable energy, hydrogen, IT, telecom, semiconductors and space.
Modi further announced the establishment of a 'Start Up Bridge' between India and Italy.
"In the defence manufacturing sector in India, opportunities for co-production & co-development are arising which can be beneficial for both the countries. We have also decided to conduct regular joint exercise and training courses," he said.
He further said that the Ukraine dispute can be solved through diplomacy.
"India has made it clear from the beginning that Ukraine dispute can be resolved through dialogue & diplomacy. We welcome Italy's active participation in the Indo-Pacific region. It is a matter of happiness that Italy has decided to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative," he said.
The conference, which is being organised under the theme "Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest?", will see the participation of representatives from over 100 countries.
Day 1 schedule of the conference
The conference which will commence on Thursday will begin with an inaugural session from 6:30 - 7:30 pm (IST). This will be followed by an inaugural dinner from 7:45-9:45 pm which will include welcome remarks by Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra.
There will be keynote addresses by Minister of Health and Family Welfare-Mansukh Mandaviya, Senior Vice President, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Japan-Sachiko Imoto, Member of Parliament, Portuguese National Parliament, Portugal-Ricardo Baptista Leite.
From 10:20 - 11:10 pm on Thursday, there will be a session on 'Conversations Over Kahwa' which will be presided by Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, India- Sanjeev Sanyal, Political Director, Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister, Hungary-Balazs Orban, Founder, Her Afghanistan, USA, Mariam Wardak, among others.
Day 2 schedule of the conference
Day two of the Raisina Dialogue will begin with ministerial remarks session by Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan from 9 -9:10 am.
This will be followed by a panel discussion from 9:10-9:50 am, further details of which are yet to be announced.
There will be another panel discussion from 9:50-10:40 am which will be presided by High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Vice-President of the European Commission-Josep Borrell Fontelles, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mexico, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada-Melanie Joly.
Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Hassan Shoukry Selim will preside over a panel discussion from 11:10-11:50 pm.
At 12 pm on Friday, there will be conversation between Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov and Chairman, Observer Research Foundation, Sunjoy Joshi.
From 4:25-5:15 pm on Friday, there will be a panel discussion on the topic 'Bytes of Promise: How Can Technology Lift Communities?', which will be presided by Sri Lanka's Minister of Foreign Affairs MUM Ali Sabry.
Day 3 schedule of the conference
Day three of the Raisina dialogue, Saturday, will begin with Conversations over Breakfast.
At 9:15 am, there will be ministerial remarks by Minister of State, Ministry of External Affairs, Meenakashi Lekhi.
From 5:10-6 pm on Saturday, there will be a panel discussion presided over by Croatia's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlic Radman.
A showstopper panel discussion from 7:10-8 pm will be presided by Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra. This will be followed by closing dinner discussions.
Over 2,500 participants would be joining the dialogue in person and the proceedings would reach millions across various digital platforms.
During the past eight years, the Raisina Dialogue has consistently grown in stature and profile to establish itself as one of the leading global conferences on international affairs.
The last edition of Raisina Dialogue took place in Sydney where External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Sydney. Jaishankar gifted her a cricket bat signed by Indian captain Rohit Sharma while his Australian counterpart gifted him an Australian cricket jersey with 'Jaishankar' written on it.
