India, Italy Hold Bilateral Consular Dialogue

The senior officials of India and Italy on Friday held the 2nd bilateral Consular Dialogue in New Delhi and discussed ways of enhancing cooperation on various issues such as quicker visa processing, mobility of students and professionals, safe and legal migration, protection of vulnerable women and children and enabling smooth travel of their respective nationals.

The talks between officials of two nations reinforced the strong people-to-people ties and cooperation that India and Italy share across consular issues of mutual trust, Ministry of External Affairs press release.

For the meeting, the Indian delegation was led by Muktesh Kumar Pardeshi, Secretary (CPV&OIA) in the Ministry of External Affairs and comprising of Joint Secretary CPV K J Srinivasa and other officials from various divisions of the Ministry of External Affairs, other ministries and agencies.

The Indian officials hosted the Italian delegation led by Luigi Maria Vignali, Director General for Migratory Policies and Italians Abroad, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by the Italian Ambassador to India Vincenzo de Luca.

In a press release, MEA stated, "Both sides discussed ways of enhancing cooperation on a wide range of issues such as quicker visa processing, mobility of students and professionals, safe and legal migration, MMPA, protection of vulnerable women and children and enabling smooth travel of their respective nationals."

"Both sides agreed to hold the next Consular Dialogue in Rome on mutually convenient date," it added.

On 22 February, Former Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata said that it was during the first official visit by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi that helped make a lot of progress in the ties.

While speaking to ANI, the Italian minister said that during Meloni's visit to India, a lot of important steps were taken to elevate the ties between the two nations.

He said, "The understanding is that India and Italy have a splendid relationship that has been established because of the new government in Italy, which was installed in October 2022."

"The first official visit by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which some important steps were made and a lot of progress was made in the quality, programs and in the way to be concrete...." he added.

During his visit to India, Terzi also met External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar on the sidelines of Raisina Dialogue. In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, "Continued a conversation with Senator@GiulioTerzi of Italy, this time on sidelines of #RaisinaDialogue2024."

Sharing details regarding his meeting with Jaishankar, Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata on X posted, "Great Indian hospitality and warmth from @DrSJaishankar at the margins of #Raisina2024 in Delhi. We continued our conversation that we started in Rome during his visit-discussing updates on #IMEC, connectivity, AI and the role of India, Italy and Europe play in these important issues and the upcoming Italian @G7. I thanked him for his continued support of the India-Italy parliamentary friendship group and people to people diplomacy."