During a joint press briefing with Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed that the two nations believe in dialogue and called for peace amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
“India and Finland, both, believe in the rule of law, dialogue and diplomacy. We are united that no problem can be solved by military conflict alone. Be it Ukraine or West Asia, we will continue to support speedy end to conflicts and all efforts for peace,” ANI quoted PM Modi as saying.
During a press briefing, the prime minister referred to the landmark trade deal struck with the European Union in January and said that despite a period of global uncertainty, India and Europe were entering what he called a golden era of their partnership.
“The world today is going through a period of instability and uncertainty. Conflict persists in many parts of the world, from Ukraine to West Asia. In such a global environment, India and Europe, two of the world’s major diplomatic powers, are entering a golden era of their relationship. Our growing cooperation gives new strength to global stability, development and shared prosperity. In early 2020, a historic free trade agreement was signed in India.”
He further pointed out that the agreement will deepen cooperation between India and Finland by enhancing trade, investment and technological cooperation, while strengthening their partnership in key sectors including digital technology, infrastructure development and sustainability.
During his speech, PM Modi highlighted the growing popularity of Finland among Indians and noted that the Nordic nation is increasingly becoming the top choice for Indian students and skilled professionals.
He also announced major developments aimed at formalizing bilateral relations, saying the two countries had signed a comprehensive agreement on migration and mobility to connect their respective innovation ecosystems.
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The Prime Minister added that cooperation will also expand in the business sphere, with plans to strengthen joint research initiatives and strengthen cooperation between startups.
Finland is a ‘model in education’: PM Modi
He noted Finland’s strong global reputation in academies and described the country as a “model in the field of education”.
Elaborating on key areas of academic collaboration, PM Modi said, “Today we also agreed to expand research collaboration in teacher education, school-to-school partnerships and the future of education.”
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Emphasizing the comprehensive scope of the bilateral relationship, he said, “This means we will deepen our cooperation at all levels of human development, from school to industry.”
PM Modi also emphasized the strategic value of the partnership in the broader regional framework, noting that Finland is an important ally of India within the Nordic region.
Pointing to shared environmental and scientific research priorities, he added: “We are also expanding our cooperation with Finland in Arctic and polar research.”
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Earlier, PM Modi held bilateral talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. President Stubb, who is on a state visit to India, received a ceremonial welcome on his arrival in the capital on Wednesday.
Accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers, senior officials and business leaders, his visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between India and Finland across various sectors.
