The ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are a pressing concern for the global community and the loss of innocent lives in any crisis has become the biggest challenge for the entire humanity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday (August 22, 2024) as India and Poland announced the elevation of ties to a strategic partnership. Towards this they agreed to formulate and execute a five-year action plan that will guide bilateral collaboration in the years 2024-2028 across several areas.
“This is India’s firm belief that no problem can be solved on the battlefield. In any crisis, the loss of lives of innocent people has become the biggest challenge for the whole of humanity. We support dialogue and diplomacy for the early restoration of peace and stability,” Mr. Modi said in remarks after the bilateral meeting with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk. “For this, India, along with its friendly countries, is ready to provide all possible support.”
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Earlier in the day, Mr. Modi was received by Mr. Tusk at the Chancery and was presented a guard of honour. In a joint statement issued after the bilateral talks, the two leaders expressed their “deepest concern” over the war raging in Ukraine including its terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences. They reiterated the need for a “comprehensive, just, and lasting peace” in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for “sovereignty and territorial integrity”. “They also noted the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for the Global South. In the context of this war, they shared the view that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is unacceptable.”
Mr. Modi also met Polish President Andrzej Duda at Belweder Palace. “The leaders reviewed bilateral ties and discussed ways to take them to newer levels. Discussions also covered regional and global issues,” the MEA Spokesperson said on social media ‘X’.
Later, he also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The action plan identified priority areas for cooperation which include: political dialogue and security cooperation; trade and investment; climate, energy, mining, science and technology; transport and connectivity; terrorism; cyber security; health; people to people ties and cultural cooperation.
Addressing the Indian community on Wednesday evening, Mr. Modi announced the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar youth exchange programme between the two countries under which every year 20 youth from Poland will be taken on a tour to India.
Noting that his visit to Poland was the first by an Indian PM in 45 years, Mr. Modi, amid loud sloganeering, said there are many such countries where no Indian Prime Minister has visited for decades, but now, the “circumstances are different”. “For decades, the policy of Bharat was to maintain equal distance from all countries. The policy of today’s Bharat is to maintain equal closeness with all countries.”
Trade and cooperation
Poland is among the world leaders in food processing, Mr. Modi noted and invited their companies to join the mega food parks being built in India. “In India rapid urbanization is opening up new opportunities for our cooperation in areas such as water treatment, solid waste management, urban infrastructure, he said identifying clean coal technology, green hydrogen, renewable energy, Artificial Intelligence as “common priorities”
“We invite Polish companies to join Make in India and make for the world,” the PM said in his press remarks adding that India has achieved many accomplishments in areas such as Fin Tech, pharma, space and would be happy to share its experience in these areas with Poland. Towards the welfare of the skilled workforce, workers, and to promote mobility, the two sides agreed on social security agreement.
Both sides agreed to work on concluding a cooperation agreement to promote the “safe, sustainable, and secure” use of space and commercial space ecosystems. “They also agreed to promote human and robotic exploration,” the joint statement said. Poland also recognized India’s ambition to join the International Energy Agency.
The two countries also decided to enhance collaboration at multilateral forums to promote “respect for rules-based international order and maintain global peace, stability, and security.”
In the last of his engagements in Warsaw, Mr. Modi held interactions with Polish business leaders and also Polish influencers.
Published - August 22, 2024 05:34 pm IST
