With relations between India and Pakistan at a low ebb, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has no plans to meet his…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Photo: Youtube)
With relations between India and Pakistan at a low ebb, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has no plans to meet his Pakistani counterpart Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on the margins of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos next week.
“No meeting is planned between the two Prime Ministers,’’ Vijay Gokhale, Secretary (Economic Relations) said while briefing the media on Modi’s visit to Davos on 22-23 January.
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There was no possibility of a meeting between Modi and US President Donald Trump either since the two leaders would not be in Davos at the same time, he added
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“The Prime Minister’s visit to Davos is very short. It will be only for 24 hours and will be very focused. This is a sign that we engage with the globe,” Gokhale said.
Modi will deliver the keynote speech at the plenary session of the WEF on 23 January. He will also have a bilateral meeting with Alain Berset, President of the Swiss Confederation on 22 January. The same evening, he will hold a round-table with global CEOs.
This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the WEF after more than 20 years. Earlier in 1997, then Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda had addressed the economic forum.
As many as six ministers from India are scheduled to address the forum. They include: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar and Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region Jitendra Singh.
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