Modi in Europe: Denmark was with India's White Revolution, Now Strong Partner in Green Future, Says PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen and the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest to boost bilateral ties. Modi, who arrived in Copenhagen from Germany, was received by Frederiksen at the airport as a special gesture and welcomed at Marienborg, the official residence of the Denmark PM. “Conversations in Copenhagen aimed at boosting friendship. PM Frederiksen welcomed PM @narendramodi at Marienborg. @Statsmin,” Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.

Modi also took a tour of Marienborg, and was accompanied by Frederiksen.

This is the prime minister’s first visit to Denmark, where he will take part in bilateral and multilateral engagements on Tuesday and Wednesday. He will review the progress of the ‘India-Denmark: A Green Strategic Partnership’ established in September 2020 and also meet Queen Margrethe II. He will also attend the India-Denmark Business Roundtable and interact with the Indian community in Denmark. Modi will also meet the leaders of the other four Nordic countries — Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway — to review progress in India’s bilateral relations with them.

He arrived in the Danish capital after wrapping up his Germany visit. He arrived in Berlin early on Monday for the first leg of his ‘three-day, three-nation’ Europe tour. Modi held talks with and co-chaired the sixth plenary session of the Inter-Governmental Consultations with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The two leaders discussed perspectives on the Ukraine war. The PM also met and addressed members of the Indian community in the German capital.

Latest updates from PM Modi’s Europe visit:

-Denmark has been with India in White revolution, now it is becoming a strong partner in the country’s green future, Modi said. “There are huge opportunities for the two countries in areas of electric mobility, green hydrogen, waste-to-wealth, sustainable urbanisation, green shipping, science, technology, innovation,” he added.

-Asserting that India’s role in damaging the climate is negligible, Modi said Indians have had no role in harming the planet and the need of the hour is to promote ‘lifestyle for environment’. Modi asked each of the members of the Indian community to convince at least their five non-Indian friends to visit India. “The mindset of use and throw is negative for the planet. It is necessary to get out of consumption oriented approach and the need of the hour is to promote ‘LIFE — Lifestyle for Environment’. India’s role in damaging the climate is negligible; Indians have had no role in damaging the planet,” Modi said.

-Modi said it is the “inclusiveness and cultural diversity” that powers the Indian community to feel alive in every moment and these values have developed within Indians for thousands of years. Addressing the Indian community settled in Denmark during his visit to the Nordic nation, Modi also said all Indians stand together for the defense of the nation and join hands in the nation-building. “Inclusiveness and cultural diversity is the power of the Indian community, which makes us all feel alive every moment. Thousands of years of time have developed these values within us,” the PM said. Amid chants of ‘Modi, Modi’ and ‘Modi hai to mumkin hai’, in the auditorium with his Danish counterpart sitting in the front row, the prime minister also said that an Indian, wherever he goes in the world, contributes sincerely for ‘karmabhoomi’ (land of work), for that country.

-Invoking popular social media expression FOMO (fear of missing out), PM Modi said those not investing in India will certainly miss out. Addressing the India-Denmark Business Forum, he said ongoing economic reforms have created investment opportunities in various sectors like green technology, cold chains, shipping and ports. India, he added, was also working on the PM-GatiShakti programme to create infrastructure facilities for the next generation. “These days the term FOMO or ‘fear of missing out’ is gaining traction on social media. Looking at India’s reforms and investment opportunities, I can say that those who don’t invest in our nation will certainly miss out,” a tweet from the Prime Minister’s Office quoted him as saying.

-India and Denmark agreed to further strengthen the Green Strategic Partnership with a focus on green hydrogen, renewable energy and wastewater management. Modi said during his discussions with Frederiksen, the joint work plan for the green strategic partnership was reviewed. “I am happy that significant progress has been made in various fields, especially in the areas of renewable energy, health, ports, shipping, circular economy and water management,” he said. A number of agreements covering sectors such as green shipping, animal husbandry and dairying, water management, energy, cultural exchange were inked after the bilateral talks.

-PM Modi will attend the India-Denmark Business Roundtable at 5.30 pm IST followed by an interaction with members of the Indian community at 8 pm IST. He will then join an audience with Queen Margrethe II at Christian IX Palace, Amalienborg, at 11.10 pm IST.

-During delegation level talks, India and Denmark reviewed progress in the Green Strategic Partnership. They also discussed wide-ranging cooperation in areas of skill development, climate, renewable energy, Arctic, P2P ties among others. Modi said India’s infrastructure sector and ‘green’ industries had a lot of investment opportunities for Danish companies and pension funds. Frederiksen said the two countries were moving fast in transforming the Green Strategic Partnership into concrete results. “The Indian government has high ambitions for the green transition. I am proud that Danish solutions play a key role in realising these important ambitions,” she added.

-Modi also said India and Denmark shared values of democracy, freedom of expression, and the rule of law. Agreeing with him, Frederiksen said, “We share many values. We are two democratic nations, we both believe in a rule-based international system. In times such as these, we need to build an even stronger bridge between us.”

-PM Modi appealed for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis, even as Frederiksen hoped that India will use its influence over Russia to end the war. Speaking to reporters in Copenhagen after bilateral talks, Modi said he discussed the Ukraine crisis and appealed for an “immediate ceasefire” in Ukraine. “We appealed for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and return to dialogue and diplomacy for resolving the crisis,” Modi said. Frederiksen hoped that India will influence Russia on Ukraine and asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop this war and end the killings”.

-India and Denmark exchanged Letters of Intent and MoUs in the presence of PM Modi and Frederiksen, in Copenhagen. Delegation level talks were led by the PMs under which both sides reviewed progress in the Green Strategic Partnership. They also discussed wide-ranging cooperation in areas of skill development, climate, renewable energy, Arctic, P2P ties among others.

-During the tour of Marienborg, Frederiksen showed PM Modi the Pattachitra painting gifted by him during her last India visit.

(The Pattachitra painting gifted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi hangs from a wall at Marienborg. Image: ANI)

-PM Modi held talks with Frederiksen at the Danish PM’s official residence Marienborg. He also took a tour of the private residence and was accompanied by Frederiksen.

-PM Modi has landed in Copenhagen. PM Modi was received by Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

-PM Modi has left for Copenhagen on an official visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen. He will also participate in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit being hosted by Denmark.

-PM Modi addressed the Indian community in Berlin and said a new resurgent India had made up its mind to move forward with determination and urged the Indian diaspora to help the country take big strides globally. PM Modi said the young and aspirational India understood the need for political stability to achieve faster development and had ended three decades of instability by mere touch of a button.

-Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended an invite to Scholz to visit India, foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Tuesday, adding, “I think we’ll work out the subsequent elements of it through the regular diplomatic channels”.

-PM Modi said India believes no country would emerge victorious in the Russia-Ukraine war as all will suffer losses and there will be a “more serious” impact on developing and poor countries. Both, PM Modi and Scholz reiterated the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

-PM Modi highlighted the reforms undertaken by his government as he interacted with Indian and German business leaders, urging them to invest in India’s youth.

-PM Modi co-chaired the sixth plenary session of the Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. In their opening remarks at the IGC, both leaders highlighted key aspects of the bilateral relationship as well as shared perspectives on regional and global issues with PM Modi emphasising that the India-Germany partnership could serve as an example of success in a complex world. He also invited German participation in India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign.

-PM Modi, who arrived in Berlin on Monday morning on the first leg of his three-nation Europe trip that will also take him to Denmark and France, held talks with the German Chancellor on key areas of bilateral cooperation under the overall strategic partnership as well as regional and global developments.

(With PTI inputs)

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