Modi meets Danish PM; discusses bilateral co-op as well as matters of regional and global interests

Copenhagen, May 3 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen here and the two leaders held extensive discussions on the full range of bilateral cooperation as well as matters of regional and global interests.

Modi, who arrived here from Germany on the second leg of his three-nation Europe trip, was welcomed by Frederiksen upon his arrival at Marienborg - the official residence of the Prime Minister of Denmark - for talks. As a special gesture, Frederiksen earlier received Modi at the airport.

"Conversations in Copenhagen aimed at boosting friendship. PM Frederiksen welcomed PM @narendramodi at Marienborg.@Statsmin," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted.

The two leaders held talks in a one-on-one format, followed by delegation-level talks, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said.

"The two Prime Ministers held extensive discussions on the full range of bilateral cooperation as also on matters of regional and global interests," Kwatra told reporters while briefing about the meeting.

He said the bilateral discussions between the two leaders have also resulted in "productive outcomes." Kwatra said a Letter of Intent was signed on smart water management, on green shipping, and an announcement was also made about the launch of ministerial energy dialogue between the two countries. "These three outcomes would strengthen the Green Strategic Partnership between our two countries," he added.

The two leaders also expressed their commitment to expedite the discussion and conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.

There were also discussions on bilateral cooperation in the Arctic region, he said, adding that an important outcome was a joint declaration of intent on migration and mobility that would further strengthen our cooperation, including through expansion in trade and services.

Discussions also covered cooperation in renewable energy, especially offshore wind energy and green hydrogen, as well as skill development, health, shipping, water and the Arctic, among others.

Both the Prime Ministers reviewed progress of the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release.

"Prime Minister Modi appreciated the positive contribution of Danish companies in India to our flagship programmes. Prime Minister Frederiksen highlighted the positive role of Indian companies in Denmark,” it said.

Both leaders lauded the expanding people-to-people ties between the two countries, and welcomed the Declaration of Intent on a migration and mobility partnership, it added.

Frederiksen gave a tour of her official residence to Modi and showed the painting he gifted her during her last India visit. It is a Pattachitra painting from Odisha.

Pattachitra style of painting is one of the oldest and most popular art forms of Odisha. It is the state’s traditional art form.

It is Prime Minister Modi's first visit to Denmark, where he will take part in bilateral and multilateral engagements on Tuesday and Wednesday.

He had said in his departure statement that the visit will "provide an opportunity to review the progress in our unique ‘Green Strategic Partnership’ with Denmark, as well as other aspects of our bilateral relations.

India-Denmark: A Green Strategic Partnership’ was established during a virtual summit in September 2020. This partnership was translated into a result-oriented five-year action plan during Prime Minister Frederiksen's India visit in October 2021.

Later in the evening, Prime Minister Modi met Queen Margrethe II.

"Her Majesty, the Queen of the Kingdom of Denmark, Margrethe II extended a warm reception to PM @narendramodi. Prime Minister felicitated Her Majesty on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of her reign," MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet.

Modi also attended the India-Denmark Business Roundtable and interacted with the Indian community in Denmark.

Over 200 Danish companies in India are actively engaged in taking forward 'Make in India’, ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’, ‘Digital India’ and other key national missions.

More than 60 Indian companies in Denmark, mainly in the IT sector, are further cementing bilateral business-to-business ties.

Denmark is home to a robust Indian diaspora of 16,000 people.

On Wednesday, Modi will take part in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit along with Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway where they will take stock of the cooperation since the First India-Nordic Summit in 2018.

"The Summit will focus on subjects like post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, innovation and technology, renewable energy, the evolving global security scenario and India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region," Modi had said.

The summit will focus on economic engagement, green partnership and mobility and cooperation in the Arctic region.

"On the sidelines of the Summit, I will also meet the leaders of the other four Nordic countries and review the progress in India’s bilateral relations with them," Modi had said.

"Nordic countries are important partners for India in sustainability, renewable energy, digitisation and innovation. The visit will help in expanding our multifaceted cooperation with the Nordic region," he added.

India's trade with Nordic countries stands at over USD 5 billion (2020-21) and a cumulative FDI of over USD 3 billion (April 2000- March 2021.