Stockholm,
India and Sweden on Tuesday agreed to strengthen defence and security cooperation and also unveiled a strategic innovation partnership and a joint action plan for a “win-win” outcome during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven.
Modi, who arrived in the Swedish capital on Monday for the first bilateral visit by an Indian premier to the Nordic nation in 30 years, noted that defence and security cooperation remained a “key pillar” in the bilateral ties.
Lofven expressed support for India’s membership of the Nuclear Supplier Group even as Modi thanked him for Sweden’s support to India’s candidature for non-permanent membership of UN Security Council .
The two had a “fruitful discussion on issues related to cooperation in innovation, trade & investment, culture and exchanged views on regional and multilateral cooperation at the delegation-level talks,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.
Two documents were agreed to between India and Sweden following the delegation-level talks Innovation Partnership and Joint Action Plan to maximise bilateral cooperation for the benefit of the people. In a joint press statement after the talks, Modi said the two sides focused on how Sweden can help India in its development journey. “I believe that the most important topic in our talks today was how Sweden can have a win-win partnership with India on the opportunities arising out of India’s development. As a result, we have agreed on an innovation partnership and a joint action plan,” he said.
He said innovation, investment, start-ups, manufacturing, etc. were the key aspects of cooperation between India and Sweden. “Along with them, we are also giving importance to areas such as renewable energy, urban transport, waste management, that our connected with the quality of life of the people in India,” Modi added.
