PM Modi with Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven
PM Narendra Modi arrived in the capital of Sweden on Monday evening to a warm welcome on the first leg of his three-nation tour of Europe that will also see him going to Britain and Germany. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian premier to the Nordic nation in 30 years after the visit of Rajiv Gandhi in 1988.
Breaking protocol, the prime minister was received by his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven at the Stolkhome Arlanda airport with a warm handshake.
"Scripting history! PM @narendramodi arrives in Stockholm on a first bilateral visit by an Indian PM in 30 years to a warm and personal welcome by @SwedishPM Stefan Lofven at the airport and to participate in the first ever India-Nordic Summit," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS:
# Furthering India-Finland friendship...Prime Minister Juha Sipila and PM Modi had wide-ranging talks on expanding bilateral cooperation in areas such as science and energy.
# Talking trade and business ties, top CEOs interact with Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Stefan Löfven. PM highlighted the various investment opportunities in India.
# India and Sweden have agreed on an innovation partnership and a joint action plan, says PM Modi
# Sweden has been a strong contributor to our 'Make in India' program. Swedish PM led a big delegation to the Mumbai summit in 2016: PM Modi.
# India, Sweden to work on security agreement, Swedish PM Stefan Lofven says after talks with PM Narendra Modi
# This is my first visit to Sweden and a visit by an Indian PM after a gap of nearly 30 years: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Stockholm
# I would like to commend the Indian govt and its strong focus on innovation as a key to progress and prosperity : Swedish PM Stefan Löfven
# Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Stefan Löfven address a joint press meet.
# PM Narendra Modi and Swedish PM Stefan Löfven held talks in Stockholm. Both leaders discussed ways to deepen trade, business and people-to-people ties between India and Sweden.
# PM Narendra Modi and His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf met in Stockholm. They had a great interaction on ways to boost India-Sweden friendship.
# The prime minister is scheduled to meet King of Sweden King Carl XVI Gustaf in the morning followed by a walk with Swedish PM Stefan Lofven from Sogerska to Rosenbad.
#India and Sweden will also co-host the first ever India-Nordic Summit, where, apart from Modi and Lofven, the prime ministers of the other four Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway will also be present.
# PM Modi will hold a bilateral summit with Lofven following which a number of agreements are expected to be signed.
# The prime ministers of both the countries will sign bilateral agreements followed by a press conference at around 1:30 p.m. (Sweden local time).
#"India and Sweden share warm and friendly ties. Our partnership is based on democratic values and commitment to an open, inclusive and rules-based global order. Sweden is a valuable partner in our development initiatives," Modi had said in a departure statement.
# PM Modi said he and Lofven would also interact with top business leaders of both countries and chart out a future roadmap of cooperation in sectors such as trade and investment, science and technology, clean energy and smart cities.
#From Sweden, the prime minister will leave for Britain where he will hold a bilateral summit with British PM Theresa May on April 18.
#He will attend this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London on April 19-20.
#While returning from Britain on April 20, he will stop over in Germany where he will a meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
WATCH VIDEO: PM Modi reaches Sweden, receives grand welcome at Stockholm Airport
