During his talks with Modi, the Spanish president said the AI Impact Summit could be a turning point in developing a global framework for artificial intelligence, as the two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in the critical sectors of defence, trade and energy.
The prime minister held bilateral talks with Sánchez and several other leaders, including his counterparts from Finland, Croatia, Bhutan and Kazakhstan, as well as the presidents of Estonia and Serbia, on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit here.
Besides artificial intelligence, the other dominant focus of Modi’s bilateral discussions with European leaders was the free trade agreement between India and the 27-nation European Union and how it would act as a powerful catalyst to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties.
“The historic FTA with the EU will have a very positive impact on the economic partnership with Spain and provide new opportunities for the people of our countries,” Modi said after his talks with Sanchez.
According to an Indian statement, President Sanchez highlighted the importance of the AI Impact Summit and expressed confidence that its outcomes would significantly contribute to shaping global AI governance.
“Both leaders recognized artificial intelligence as a transformative force and highlighted the need for closer cooperation between India and Spain to leverage its potential for inclusive development and societal benefits,” it said. The AI summit was attended by top leaders from 11 European countries, including France, the Netherlands, Spain, Croatia, Greece, Serbia, Slovakia, Estonia, Finland and Switzerland.
A total of 26 European countries participated in the AI Impact Summit and this is the largest European delegation to join a technology-focused event in India, sources familiar with the matter said.
Europe remains a hub of cutting-edge innovation in AI, digital governance and AI frameworks. The European Union plays a leading role in setting global standards, particularly for AI. The EU is the first bloc in the world to adopt comprehensive AI legislation.
During their official talks, European leaders expressed unanimous support for the speedy implementation of the India-EU FTA and assured their support for its early ratification in the European Council and the European Parliament, the people cited above said.
The leaders expressed their desire to strengthen trade ties with India by leveraging the FTA, they added.
The Modi-Sanchez talks saw both sides pledging to strengthen cooperation in trade, defense, energy and critical technology sectors, even as both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Tata-Airbus collaboration to produce the C-295 military transport aircraft at a final assembly line in Vadodara, Gujarat.
The two leaders welcomed the conclusion of FTA negotiations between India and the EU as a major milestone that would help unlock immense trade and investment potential between India and Spain as well as with Europe, according to the Indian statement.
Modi and Sanchez reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and stressed the need for enhanced international cooperation to combat terrorism.
“The historic FTA with the EU will have a very positive impact on the economic partnership with Spain and provide new opportunities for the people of our countries,” Modi said of the draft trade deal finalized last month.
Modi and Sanchez also highlighted the importance of defense industrial collaboration based on co-development and co-production as the way forward.
The two leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues of common interest, including Spain’s decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, according to the statement.
During their talks, Modi and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo welcomed the India-EU free trade agreement, saying it would serve as a catalyst for shared progress and prosperity.
“The leaders highlighted the central role of digitalization and sustainability in driving future economic growth and development. In this context, they recognized and welcomed the growing presence of their leading technology companies in the respective economies through expanded operations and partnerships,” the statement said. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) said.
The Finnish Prime Minister hailed India’s vision for fair and inclusive artificial intelligence.
Modi and Orpo called for doubling bilateral trade and greater technological collaboration, particularly in the co-development of quantum and 6G, renewable energy, circular economy and defence, the MEA said.
The Prime Minister’s talks with his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic saw the two leaders discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas, including trade and investment, science and technology, connectivity, cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties.
“Recalling the conclusion of the historic India-EU FTA, they called for speedy implementation of the agreement to boost bilateral trade. Views were also exchanged on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the MEA said.
Both sides emphasized harnessing artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to prepare for a better future for the people of both countries.
Modi also held a separate bilateral meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
“The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, AI, fintech, education, agriculture and people-to-people exchanges,” the MEA said.
During his meeting with Modi, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay thanked his Indian counterpart for New Delhi’s support for Bhutan’s 13th Five Year Plan as well as the Gelephu Mindfulness City Project.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing cooperation in the priority areas of energy, connectivity and development partnership, the MEA said in a statement.
In line with the emphasis on harnessing new technologies for growth and prosperity by India and Bhutan, the two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of AI and digital technologies through mutual sharing of experiences and expertise as well as joint development of AI solutions, the statement said.
Modi also met Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.
The two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation in a range of areas, including politics, trade, defense and security, connectivity, energy, emerging technologies and people-to-people ties, the MEA said.
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