PM Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni projected growing warmth and strategic alignment between India and Italy during a joint press conference in Rome on Wednesday, with the Italian leader describing the current phase of bilateral ties as the strongest in history.
Welcoming PM Modi and the Indian delegation, Meloni called the occasion “a historic day” for relations between the two countries and underscored the significance of the Indian Prime Minister’s visit. In a gesture that drew attention during the press interaction, she switched briefly to Hindi and said, “Parishram hi safalta ki kunji hai,” which translates to “Hard work is the key to success.”
Parishram he safalta ki kunji hai (hard work is the key to success), says Italian PM Meloni speaking in Hindi, while standing next to Indian PM Modi pic.twitter.com/VOv4jV3Fy4
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 20, 2026
The remark reflected the cordial atmosphere surrounding the meeting, with both leaders emphasizing the growing momentum in ties between New Delhi and Rome.
Referring to PM Modi as her “friend,” Meloni highlighted the historical significance of the visit and noted the long gap between bilateral prime ministerial engagements. She pointed out that although Narendra Modi has been leading India since 2014, this marked his first bilateral visit to Italy. She also observed that the previous bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister had taken place in 2000, making it a gap of more than two decades.
According to Meloni, the visit represents more than merely resuming high-level interactions; it symbolizes a conscious effort by both sides to elevate relations to a new level.
She stated that the two countries had worked steadily and with determination to strengthen ties and build stronger engagement across various sectors. Describing the current phase as the culmination of a carefully developed trajectory, Meloni said both nations had succeeded in taking their partnership to its highest point so far.
The remarks from both leaders come amid expanding cooperation between India and Italy in areas such as trade, technology, strategic affairs, defence cooperation and global partnerships. The Rome meeting further signalled the increasing political comfort and diplomatic engagement between the two governments, with both sides appearing keen to deepen collaboration in the years ahead.
