PM Modi Austria Visit Live Updates: Shared belief in values such as democracy, rule of law are foundation of India-Austria relations: PM Modi

VIDEO | PM Modi (@narendramodi) holds a meeting with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen in Vienna.

(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/lXiY6qjx0j

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 10, 2024

Hatte ein ausgezeichnetes Treffen mit Bundeskanzler @karlnehammer. Dieser Besuch in Österreich ist etwas ganz Besonderes, denn nach mehreren Jahrzehnten besucht ein indischer Premierminister dieses wunderbare Land. Es ist auch die Zeit, in der wir das 75-jährige Bestehen der… pic.twitter.com/MhW37AFeyS

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2024

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Austria, the Congress Tuesday (July 9) recalled the “key role” Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, played in “the emergence of a sovereign and neutral Austria”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invited Austrian companies to invest in India as he highlighted the potential for bilateral collaborations in infrastructure, energy, emerging technologies and other sectors.

Modi arrived here from Moscow after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday evening on a two-day visit, the first by an Indian prime minister in over 40 years.

Modi and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer jointly addressed renowned Austrian and Indian CEOs at a round table business meeting in Hofburg Palace here.

"PM highlighted the significant potential for collaboration between Indian and Austrian companies in various sectors, including infrastructure, renewable energy, green sectors, new and emerging technologies, fintech, startups, and innovation, among others," the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a social media post. PTI

Addressing the press meet with Chancellor @karlnehammer in Vienna. https://t.co/dKleqH32KH

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day bilateral visit to Austria on Wednesday said that he had discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, he reiterated that the loss of innocent lives is not acceptable anywhere and solutions to conflicts cannot be found on the battlefield. 

READ MORE:  In Austria, PM Modi says terrorism not acceptable in any form, reiterates it’s not era of war

India is an influential and credit-worthy country whose role is more than important when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine peace process, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said on Wednesday and offered his country as a site for dialogue as a neutral country.

Nehammer's remarks came during his joint press statement with visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi after their formal talks.

Nehammer said he discussed with Modi the conflict in Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi arrived here after holding several rounds of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. PTI

PM Modi says this is not the time for war. PM Modi discussed the ongoing disputes in the world, including Ukraine conflict and situation in West Asia with with Chancellor Nehammer.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a delegation-level meeting with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer at the Federal Chancellery in Vienna, news agency ANI reported.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer hold a delegation-level meeting at the Federal Chancellery in Vienna, Austria. pic.twitter.com/n3bP91wGiM

— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the second day of his visit to Austria, signed the Guestbook at the Federal Chancellery in Vienna, news agency ANI reported.

Modi was accompanied by Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi signs the Guestbook at the Federal Chancellery in Vienna, Austria.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer also accompanies PM Modi. pic.twitter.com/2fy13meJQM

— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, applauded the choir in Austria as they welcomed him in Vienna to the tunes of Vande Mataram.

"Austria is known for its vibrant musical culture. I got a glimpse of it thanks to this amazing rendition of Vande Mataram!" PM Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter) while sharing a video of the performance over the platform.

Austria is known for its vibrant musical culture. I got a glimpse of it thanks to this amazing rendition of Vande Mataram! pic.twitter.com/XMjmQhA06R

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the ceremonial Guard of Honour in Austria's Vienna, news agency PTI reported.

PM Modi is in Austria to hold restricted delegation-level talks and a high level business meeting. He will later interact with the Indian diaspora and community based out in Vienna. 

VIDEO | Ceremonial Guard of Honour for PM Modi in Vienna, Austria.

(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/X4f1dLTVxB

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 10, 2024

Though diplomatic relations between India and Austria were established on November 10, 1949, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had visited Austria in 1983, and the then Austrian Chancellor, Fred Sinowatz, reciprocated with a visit to India in 1984.

• In November 1999, then President KR Narayanan made India’s first state visit to Austria. The then Austrian President, Heinz Fischer, reciprocated with a state visit in February 2005.
• Then President Pratibha Patil also made a state visit to Austria in October 4-7, 2011.

PM Modi's relations with Austria-

• In his first term, Modi held a bilateral meeting with then Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern in St Petersburg on June 2, 2017, on the sidelines of St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
• In his second term, Modi met then Austrian Chancellor, Alexander Schallenberg, on October 30, 2021, on sidelines of COP-26 in Glasgow.
• He also had a telephone conversation with President Alexander Van der Bellen on May 26, 2020.
• To foster innovation and entrepreneurship between the countries, the ‘India-Austria Startup Bridge’ was launched in February this year.
• Officials said ties between the two countries are expected to get a boost with the bilateral visit.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Vienna, Austria on Tuesday from his two-day visit to Russia, Austrian artists welcomed him by performing Vande Mataram.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday concluded his two-day visit to Russia to attend the 22nd India-Russia annual summit, held on July 8 and 9. During his visit:

• He received Russia’s highest civilian honour — Order of St. Andrew the Apostle in Kremlin.
• He also paid tributes to the “Tomb of Unknown Soldier” in Moscow.
• Bilateral talks between PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin focused on defense, investment, energy cooperation, education, and culture.
• PM Modi also interacted with the Indian diaspora there, and emphasized that Russia is India's "all-weather friend," while appreciating Putin's leadership in strengthening ties between India and Russia.
• Modi emphasized the need for peace in Ukraine, stressing that conflicts cannot be resolved through violence.

In the era of geopolitical shifts, the visit of PM Modi, which is the first bilateral meet in his third term, could be a game changer considering the global world order shifting to the multipolar axis.

Glimpses from PM @narendramodi's arrival in Vienna, Austria. During his visit, the PM will hold talks with Chancellor @karlnehammer and take part in various programmes. pic.twitter.com/OvnquK8VWg

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 10, 2024

A day earlier, PM Modi was in Russia, where he received the country’s highest civilian honour — Order of St. Andrew the Apostle in Kremlin.

The award for the PM was announced in 2019, for “exceptional services in promoting special & privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India and friendly relations between the Russian and Indian peoples.”

What is the award, and who gets it?

The award is given to prominent government and public figures, military leaders, and outstanding representatives of science, culture, art, and various sectors of the economy for exceptional services to Russia.  

Read the explainer here.

PM Modi will on Wednesday hold restricted delegation-level talks and a high level business meeting in Austria.

He will later interact with the Indian diaspora and community based out in Vienna.

PM Modi’s visit is being considered as an important milestone for the partnership between India and Austria.

After arriving in Vienna on Tuesday, Modi shared on X, “The India-Austria friendship is strong and it will get even stronger in the times to come.”

Happy to meet you in Vienna, Chancellor @karlnehammer. The India-Austria friendship is strong and it will get even stronger in the times to come. https://t.co/Sr1FSjVnk3

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen, and hold formal talks with Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Wednesday.

He arrived in Vienna on Tuesday from Moscow for a one-day visit to Austria.

This visit, the first by an Indian prime minister in over 40 years since Indira Gandhi in 1983, aims to explore ways to further deepen bilateral relations and enhance cooperation on various geopolitical challenges.

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