Geneva: With the issues of black money and India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) high on the agenda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a meeting with Swiss President Johann Schneider-Amman.
“The meetings in Switzerland begin... President Schneider-Amman and PM Narendra Modi hold talks in Geneva,” The Prime Minister's Office tweeted.
Modi arrived in Switzerland from Qatar on Sunday night on the third leg of his five-nation tour.
Switzerland is an important member of the NSG and India is expected seek its support for membership in the group.
On the black money issue, India has been in touch with the Swiss government under the mandate of the double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA).
Monday's discussions may also veer around renewable energy and vocational education, sectors Switzerland is strong in.
Modi will also hold a meeting with business leaders and interact with Indian researchers in this Swiss city on Monday.
Switzerland is India's fifth largest trade partner and 11th largest investor.
After his engagements in Switzerland, the Prime Minister will proceed to the US later on Monday and on Wednesday to Mexico.
Modi, who visited Afghanistan on Saturday to inaugurate India-Afganistan Friendship Dam, arrived here after his two-day visit to Qatar during which he held talks with the leadership there on a host of issues.
"Bon Soir Geneve! A late night arrival in the picturesque Swiss city marks beginning of third leg of PM's journey," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
Ahead of his five-nation tour, Modi had described Switzerland as India's key partner in Europe. "I will hold talks with President Schneider-Ammann to
deepen our bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
"In Geneva, I will meet prominent businesspersons. Our agenda will be to expand economic and investment ties. I will meet Indian scientists working at CERN. India takes pride in their contribution to exploring new frontiers of science in the service of humanity," he had said.
The Prime Minister is likely to raise the issue of black money stashed by Indians in Swiss banks. Modi is also likely to seek Switzerland's support for
India's membership of the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group as it is a key member of the elite grouping.
From here, Modi will travel to the US and then to Mexico before returning to India.
In Qatar, his second stop on the list, PM Modi vowed to root out corruption in India and said he has “faced problems” by depriving the “sweets of many” and saved over Rs 36,000 crore annually by stopping leakage and theft in government schemes.
Addressing the Indian diaspora at the end of his two-day visit to Qatar, Modi said, “We have only cleaned up the surface (on corruption) and a detailed clean-up remains.”
Comparing the criticism his government’s actions have drawn to a child getting angry on being deprived of a sweet by its mother, Modi said, “Like at home, some child wants to eat sweets and his mother hides those from him…When the mother stops the child’s access to the sweets, the child gets upset with her, however good she might be. I, too, have stopped sweets to several people. I will also face problems. But I can face these problems because of love from you people, from 125 crore Indians,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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