Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Italy Massimo D’Alema paid an official visit to India between the 10th and the 12th of October. On his three-day visit to both Delhi and Mumbai, Mr. D’Alema met with the major political leaders and economic organizations of the country, revamping once again the warm and friendly ties which have traditionally tied together the two countries, as well as their reciprocal interest in each other.

On Wednesday the 10th, following a morning of cultural visits to Old Delhi, Mr. D’Alema joined Indian Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee at the Hyderabad House, where the two Ministers held discussions on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

As a significant follow-up to this first high level meeting, Mr. D’Alema held a lecture at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in the capital, on the subject ‘Italy, Europe and India: making the multilateral system stronger’.

High level meetings followed all day long with UPA Chairperson and Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi hosting Mr. D’Alema at her private residence at number 10 Janpath.

Later the Italian delegation met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the two political leaders exchanged their views and positions on international issues of common interest.

Before concluding the day at a dinner held in his honour by Indian MEA Mukherjee at the Hyderabad House, Mr. D’Alema opened along with the Indian Minister of Culture Smt. Ambika Soni as counterpart, the exhibition of Milan’s “Triennale” titled ‘100 objects of Italian Design’ (hosted in Delhi until the 24 the of October by the Lalit Kala Academi).

During the evening the Italian DPM and FM also inaugurated in the compound of the Italian Embassy in Chanakyapuri the new premises of the integrated offices of the Italian Trade Commission with the Commercial Office of the Embassy and the Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce.

A reception at the Embassy of Italy concluded the evening in Chanakyapuri with very distinguished guests from both the Italian and Indian side - 11 of which received an official recognition of merit for strengthening relations between India and Italy with their professional successes.

On Thursday the 11th, Mr. D’Alema finally flew to India’s business booming capital, Mumbai, where he held meetings with the Italian and Indian economic and investors’ community, as well as journalist from leading Indian daily newspaper The Hindu and DD News.

In conclusion of its official visit, the Italian DPM and FM also met with the political leaders of Maharashtra, Governor Shri M.S. Krishna and Chief Minister Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh.