New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides held extensive delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Friday, focusing on expanding strategic and bilateral cooperation between the two nations. The high-level Indian delegation included External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The discussions aimed to deepen engagement in traditional sectors such as trade, investment, defence, and security, while exploring emerging fields including artificial intelligence, fintech, innovation, and research.
The visit carries substantial diplomatic weight as it follows Prime Minister Modi’s landmark trip to Nicosia in June 2025, which was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus in more than two decades. The current engagement is further amplified by the fact that Cyprus presently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, making the talks pivotal for the broader India-EU cooperative framework. Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar called on President Christodoulides, expressing appreciation for his positive sentiments toward strengthening bilateral ties and India-EU relations, before the Cypriot President paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
President Christodoulides arrived in India on Wednesday for his four-day official state visit, which marks his first since assuming office. The itinerary commenced in Mumbai, where he received a ceremonial welcome from Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and participated in a business forum designed to catalyze commercial investments. As part of the concluding state ceremonies in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi hosted a luncheon for the visiting delegation, and President Droupadi Murmu will receive the Cypriot President for an official banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, as both nations steadily advance toward celebrating 65 years of formal diplomatic relations in 2027.
