The Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs, Smt. Sushma Swaraj, will pay a 4-nation official visit to Italy, France, Luxembourg and Brussels from 17-23 June 2018.
The visit to Italy from 17-18 June 2018 will be the first major political exchange between India and Italy following the swearing in of H.E. Mr. Giuseppe Conte as Italy’s new Prime Minister on 1st June 2018. While in Rome, Smt. Swaraj will call on Prime Minister
Conte and also meet her counterpart, Mr. Enzo Moavero Milanesi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and review the bilateral relations between the two countries.
The visit to France from 18-19 June 2018 will be the first major visit from India to France since the visit of the French President Macron to India in March 2018. During her visit to Paris, Smt. Swaraj will meet her counterpart, Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister
for Europe & Foreign Affairs to review the bilateral relations. India and France are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership. While in Paris, Smt. Swaraj will be the Chief Guest at the naming ceremony of the Indian Culture Centre and
also interact with the Indian community.
Smt. Swaraj will be visiting Luxembourg from 19-20 June 2018. This will be the first ever visit to Luxembourg by an External Affairs Minister from India. 2018 also marks the 70th year of establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries. During
her visit, the External Affairs Minister will be calling on the Hon’ble Grand Duke of Luxembourg His Royal Highness Henri Albert Gabriel Félix Marie Guillaume and H.E. Mr. Xavier Bettel, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg. Smt. Swaraj will also have meetings
with Mr. Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Mr. Pierre Gramegna, the Minister of Finance. In Luxembourg, EAM will also interact with the Indian community.
The Minister will be visiting Belgium from 20-23 June 2018. In Brussels, Hon’ble External Affairs Minister will be meeting the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium H.E. Mr. Didier Reynders. Brussels being the headquarters of the
European Union, Hon’ble External Affairs Minister will be calling on the President of the European Commission H.E. Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker and the President of the European Parliament H.E. Mr. Antonio Tajani. Smt. Swaraj will also be meeting with her counterpart,
Ms. Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice President of the European Commission to review the entire gamut of India-EU relations. While in Brussels, Smt. Swaraj will deliver a keynote
speech at the high-level event ‘Climate, Peace and Security: Time for Action’, lead the International Yoga Day celebrations at the European Parliament and also interact with the Indian community.
The visit to the four European nations will provide an opportunity to hold in-depth discussions with the political leadership on a wide range of global, regional and bilateral issues and advance our growing strategic engagement with the European Union.
New Delhi
June 16, 2018