India-Slovakia
Slovakia awards Modi highest state honour, elevates ties with India to Comprehensive Partnership
Bratislavia/IBNS: Slovak President Peter Pellegrini conferred the country's highest state honour on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bratislava on Monday.
Pellegrini awarded Modi the "Order of the White Double Cross, First Class" at a ceremony in the Slovak capital, recognising what Slovak authorities described as his contribution to strengthening relations between the two countries.
Accepting the award, Modi said the honour belonged to the people of India and reflected the friendship between India and Slovakia.
"This honour is a tribute to the 1.4 billion people of India and to the enduring bonds of friendship between India and Slovakia," Modi said in a statement.
The visit also saw Modi hold separate meetings with President Pellegrini and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, focusing on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, defence, technology and emerging sectors.
Following talks at Bratislava Castle, Modi and Fico announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership, a move aimed at deepening cooperation across strategic sectors.
The two leaders reviewed collaboration in defence, space, civil nuclear energy, renewable energy, digital innovation and academic exchanges, while identifying artificial intelligence, supercomputing and other emerging technologies as new areas for cooperation.
Modi also held delegation-level talks with the Slovakian President Peter Pellegrini. Photo: PIB
Several agreements were signed during the visit, including memorandums of understanding covering digital technologies, labour mobility, higher education and research, and audiovisual cooperation.
The two sides also exchanged a letter of intent to strengthen defence cooperation.
India additionally announced plans to establish the first Chair in Artificial Intelligence at the Technical University of Košice.
In a boost to economic ties, Modi and Fico jointly met Slovak business leaders from sectors including defence, energy, information technology, healthcare and transportation.
According to a statement, Modi encouraged Slovak companies to expand investments in India, particularly in infrastructure, renewable energy, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and healthcare.
The leaders welcomed the conclusion of the India-European Union free trade agreement, saying it would create new opportunities for businesses in both countries.
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