Bari (Italy): Participating in the G7 summit as an invited member has proved to be very beneficial for India. The G7 countries have given the biggest gift to India. Through this, there is now an agreement to connect India directly to Europe through high-speed railway. This will increase India’s trade from West Asia to Europe manifold. Let us tell you that at the end of the G7, the group of seven industrial countries issued a press release and expressed commitment to further promote concrete infrastructure proposals like the India-West-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Along with this, a plan has been prepared to connect this project with high-speed railway in addition to road.
This press release was issued on Friday evening after the “family photo” as per tradition at the luxury resort Borgo Egnazia. With this, the G7 also reiterated its commitment to an “independent and free Indo-Pacific” based on the rule of law. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the G7 summit at the invitation of host Italian counterpart Georgia Meloni. The release said, “We will promote concrete proposals, flagship projects and complementary proposals of the G7 PGII (Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment) to develop transformational economic corridors for quality infrastructure and investment, such as strengthening our coordination and financing program for the Lobito Corridor, Luzon Corridor, Middle Corridor and India-West Asia-Europe Economic Corridor, as well as the EU Global Gateway, the Great Green Wall initiative and the Mattei Plan initiated by Italy for Africa.”
India-West Asia-Europe Economic Corridor will be connected by high speed rail
The India-West Asia-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project envisages a huge road, rail and shipping network between Saudi Arabia, India, America and Europe to ensure connectivity between Asia, West Asia and the West. IMEC is also being seen as an initiative by like-minded countries to gain strategic influence in the face of China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI). BRI is a massive connectivity project that connects China with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Russia and Europe. IMEC was finalised during the G20 summit in Delhi last year.
World leaders are delighted by PM Modi’s speech at G7
World leaders are delighted by PM Modi’s address at the G7 summit on Friday. Regarding the ‘Outreach Session’ organized on the subject of Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa and the Mediterranean, in which PM Modi addressed, the release said, “In the spirit of shared responsibility, we warmly welcome the participation of the leaders of Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Tunisia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.”
It said, “We will advance our efforts to enhance synergy between our artificial intelligence operations related approaches to promote greater certainty, transparency and accountability. “We will also keep in mind that G7 members’ positions and policy orientations may differ.” Among other priorities on the summit agenda, the statement expressed “strong support” for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.