New Delhi, February 27: Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day official visit. She emphasized that India is a trusted friend and a strategic ally of Europe.
During her visit, von der Leyen is accompanied by the European Union College of Commissioners, and the second ministerial meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council, along with bilateral ministerial discussions, will take place.
In a post on X, von der Leyen expressed her thoughts on India’s significance, stating, "In an era of conflicts and intense competition, you need trusted friends. For Europe, India is such a friend and a strategic ally. I'll discuss with @narendramodi how to take our strategic partnership to the next level." She is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday to discuss enhancing their strategic partnership.
Upon arrival, von der Leyen received a warm welcome at the airport, where she was greeted by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, shared the reception details on X, stating, "Elevating the multifaceted partnership to new heights. President of the @EU_Commission @vonderleyen arrives in New Delhi for the first visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India."
This marks Ursula von der Leyen's third visit to India. She previously visited the country for a bilateral official trip in April 2022 and attended the G20 Leaders' Summit in September 2023. The two leaders, PM Modi and von der Leyen, have also held discussions on the sidelines of various multilateral meetings.
