Rome, September 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that India and Italy are continuing to strengthen their “deep bond of friendship” and work together towards greater cooperation and prosperity.
“Happy birthday to my friend Narendra Modi, to whom I wish health, energy, and success. Italy and India continue to strengthen their deep bond of friendship, building together a future of cooperation and prosperity for our Nations,” Meloni wrote on X.
Prime Minister Modi was born on September 17, 1950, in Vadnagar, Gujarat. He has served as Prime Minister since May 2014 and is currently in his third consecutive term. He was Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014.
The birthday message comes amid strengthening bilateral ties between India and Italy. During Modi’s official visit to Rome in May, the two countries elevated their existing Strategic Partnership to a Special Strategic Partnership and agreed to maintain regular high-level engagement.
The two leaders also agreed to hold annual meetings at the leadership level, including on the sidelines of multilateral events, alongside regular ministerial and institutional-level consultations. Their discussions covered areas including trade and investment, defence and security, science and technology, space, energy, artificial intelligence, education and culture.
Earlier this month, Modi congratulated Meloni on becoming Italy’s longest continuously serving Prime Minister in the post-war period and credited her role in strengthening the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership.
“Congratulations to my friend Prime Minister Meloni on becoming the longest continuously serving Prime Minister in Italy’s postwar history,” Modi had posted on X on September 4.
He also said Meloni’s friendship had been instrumental in strengthening bilateral ties and expressed his intention to continue working with her towards a prosperous future for the two countries.
Responding to Modi’s message, Meloni thanked him for his words and friendship, saying that the relationship between Italy and India was “stronger than ever”.
She also highlighted the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries and said it reflected their intention to combine their respective expertise and create new opportunities for growth.
Meloni further said that India and Italy would continue working together to strengthen ties between their regions, including through cooperation on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
During their May meeting in Rome, Modi and Meloni reviewed progress under the India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 and agreed to expand cooperation across several sectors.
The two countries have also committed to deepening cooperation in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence and critical technologies, along with research, innovation, energy, education, culture and people-to-people ties.
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