After extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Belgian counterpart Bart de Wever, India and Belgium on Thursday agreed to significantly expand their cooperation in the areas of trade, defence, vital minerals, clean energy and technology. In a statement to the media, Modi said India’s growth rate was 7.8 percent in the last quarter and said the country’s economic progress is a source of confidence and new opportunities for the world. The Belgian Prime Minister termed the Indo-European Union Free Trade Agreement as a major achievement and said that New Delhi and Brussels are building a relationship that is more comprehensive and strategic than ever before.
Several agreements were signed between India and Belgium today. After the agreements, the Prime Ministers of the two countries held a joint press conference. At the press conference, PM Modi said, “Defence and security cooperation are the main pillars of our relationship, and we are committed to eradicating terrorism in all its forms.”