Observing that military conflict can’t resolve any issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India and Finland have agreed to continue supporting any effort aimed at an early cessation of hostilities and restoration of peace in Ukraine or West Asia.
‘’Both India and Finland believe in the rule of law, dialogue and diplomacy. We also agree that the reform of global institutions is not only essential but urgent to tackle increasing global challenges,’’ he said at a media interaction with visiting Finland President Alexander Stubb after talks between them.
The two countries agreed to elevate bilateral ties to ‘’Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability’’ and signed three pacts, including one on migration and mobility partnership.
Noting that the world is passing through a period of instability and uncertainty, Modi said there is war going on from Ukraine to West Asia. ‘’In this kind of global environment, the relations between India and Europe—two major global diplomatic powers—are entering a golden era,’’ he said and referred to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) reached between the two sides earlier this year.
The PM said the two countries are opposed to terrorism in any form and are committed to uprooting the menace.
He said the increasing cooperation between India and Eruope is strengthening global stability, growth and mutual prosperity. ‘’This agreement,” he said, “will also enhance trade, investment and technology cooperation between India and Finland.”
The PM also spoke highly about the cooperation between India and Finland so far and referred to the presence of Nokia in India. He noted that architects from Finland helped India make the world’s highest railway bridge on river Chenab. “Today on President Stubb’s visit to India, we are elevating India-Finland relations to a strategic partnership in digitalisation and sustainability…this partnership will give an impetus to our cooperation in hi-tech areas ranging from from AI to 6G telecom, from clean energy to quantum.’’
In his remarks, the Finland President hailed India’s foreign policy, saying it is not illusionary but pragmatic and realistic. India has shown to the world how one can exercise strategic caution and safeguard autonomy while championing the cause of multilateralism and global cooperation. He also spoke of the India-Finland economic cooperation, saying the two countries aim to double bilateral trade. The world, President Stubb said, is changing and observed that India and its friends in the Global South will decide the direction in which the world will go. He said conflicts are going on in both Ukraine and West Asia. ‘’Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine has lasted for long—4 years—we agree that ending the war is in everyone’s interest,’’ he said. The visiting leader said a lasting peace can only be one that respects the principles of the United Nations.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to broaden and deepen cooperation in areas of trade and investment, digitalisation, clean energy and circular economy, semiconductors and critical minerals, education and innovation, technology, including AI, 6G, quantum computing and people-to-people ties.