Warmth in ties prompts Italy to let India host G20 Summit in 2022 (original) (raw)

New Delhi: Italy agreed to let India host the G20 summit in 2022 in its place owing to the momentum in bilateral ties in the past two years that allowed the two countries to overcome the dispute over two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen, said people aware of the matter.

India was scheduled to host the G20 summit in 2021 and Italy in 2022. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had requested Italy to host the summit in 2021 and allow India to host it in 2022, on the occasion of the 75th year of India’s independence.

Japan is scheduled to host the summit in 2019, followed by Saudi Arabia in 2020.

“In 2022 India completes 75 years since Independence. In that special year, India looks forward to welcoming the world to the G20 summit!

Come to India, the world’s fastest growing large economy! Know India’s rich history and diversity, and experience the warm Indian hospitality,” Modi tweeted at the end of the G20 summit before departing from Argentina.

Growfast

India hosted the Italian PM in 2017 and then again this year. This year, Modi returned from Japan in the early hours of October 30 to meet his Italian counterpart in Delhi on the same day.

Modi was earlier scheduled to visit Japan on October 29-30, but the trip was advanced by a day so that he could meet the Italian PM Giuseppe Conte in Delhi on October 30. In his maiden visit to Delhi as PM, Conte expressed strong understanding and liking for India, said officials.

Italy is emerging a key economic and technology partner as India focuses on expanding strategic partnership with Europe. India views Italy as a European nation that is willing to share technology and invest here, including in infrastructure. Conte was in Delhi for the technology summit.

There are longstanding partnerships between Indian and Italian institutions which will be further enhanced through centres of excellence, according to officials.

The dispute over the marines was resolved after India allowed both Italian marines to return to Italy, as per the verdict of an international arbitration court in The Hague in early 2016. Italy supported India for membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime after opposing it initially. Ties gathered momentum when external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj travelled to Italy in September 2016 as the two sides decided to move beyond the issue of marines. This was followed by then Italian PM Paolo Gentiloni’s visit to India in 2017.