During his first visit to Austria, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in discussions with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the strategic relationship between Bharat and Austria.
At a joint press conference, PM Modi, following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, asserted on the importance of peace and declared that war should have no place in the world. He also explored ways to enhance cooperation with Austria in areas such as infrastructure development, renewable energy, hydrogen, water and waste management, and artificial intelligence.
“I am delighted to visit Austria at the beginning of my third term. This visit is historic, as it marks the first time in 41 years that an Indian PM has come to Austria,” PM Modi remarked.
“Today, Chancellor Karl Nehammer and I had significant discussions on further strengthening our ties. We have decided to give these ties a strategic direction, especially in sectors like infrastructure development, renewable energy, hydrogen, water and waste management, and artificial intelligence, linking each other’s capabilities.”
The Ukraine conflict and the situation in West Asia were also key topics during PM Modi’s meeting with the Austrian Chancellor.
“I have stated before, and I reiterate now, this is not the time for war. Solutions cannot be found on the battlefield. The killing of innocent people is unacceptable anywhere. Both Bharat and Austria emphasise dialogue and diplomacy, and we are ready to support any efforts towards this,” PM Modi added.
Had an excellent meeting with Chancellor @karlnehammer. This visit to Austria is very special because it is after several decades that an Indian Prime Minister is visiting this wonderful country. It is also the time when we are marking 75 years of the India-Austria friendship. pic.twitter.com/wFsb4PvM9J
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2024
He highlighted the shared values of democracy and the rule of law as the strong foundations of India-Austria relations and condemned terrorism.
“We discussed major challenges facing humanity today, including climate change and terrorism. We invite Austria to join our initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the Bio-fuel Alliance. We both strongly condemn terrorism and agree it cannot be justified in any way,” he said.
Following his meeting with Putin, PM Modi reassured the global community that Bharat stands for peace, asserting that peace cannot be achieved through violence.
Chancellor Nehammer acknowledged Bharat’s crucial role in the global south.
“For me, it was a significant signal that India, as a founding member of BRICS, participated in the Swiss Peace Summit. Today, we have discussed stronger commitments and possibilities for reviving the peace process. PM Modi and I talked about Bharat’s unique position in the global south. Bharat is an influential and credit-worthy country, being the world’s largest democracy, making its role vital for Austria in peace processes and future peace summits,” he stated.
He noted that the evolving geopolitical situation strengthens the bond between Bharat and Austria.
“Last night and this morning, we had intensive discussions about the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. It is crucial for me, as the Federal Chancellor of Austria, to understand Bharat’s perspective and share European concerns. The conflict in the Middle East was also a major topic. Amid these challenging geopolitical conditions, we also highlighted the positive aspects of our cooperation,” Nehammer concluded.
