Modi Holds 7 Bilaterals, To Open AI Summit’s Plenary
18 Feb 2026 2:39 PM IST18 Feb 2026 2:39 PM IST
India pushes AI partnerships with global leaders
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi. (PMO via PTI Photo)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday began a series of bilateral meetings with visiting world leaders ahead of the Leaders’ Plenary of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
The Prime Minister held back-to-back meetings at Hyderabad House with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Estonian President Alar Karis and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
In the evening, he welcomed the dignitaries at Bharat Mandapam, the summit venue, and hosted a dinner. The leaders also attended cultural performances.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Leaders’ segment of the India AI Impact Summit. The opening session will also be addressed by French President Emmanuel Macron and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The programme includes a visit to the India AI Impact Expo 2026 and participation in the Leaders’ Plenary focusing on AI governance, infrastructure and international cooperation.
French President Macron arrived in New Delhi after talks with Modi in Mumbai. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam also reached the Capital.
During talks with Sánchez, the two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation across trade, technology, defence, space, renewable energy and cultural exchanges. They welcomed progress in the Tata–Airbus C-295 transport aircraft final assembly line at Vadodara and stressed defence industrial collaboration.
With Tobgay, Modi discussed cooperation in AI and digital technologies and reaffirmed India’s support for Bhutan’s development priorities.
In meetings with Karis and Orpo, discussions centred on technology partnerships, trade expansion, quantum and 6G collaboration, renewable energy and skilling. Talks with Plenković, Vučić and Bektenov covered defence, infrastructure, connectivity, manufacturing, energy and emerging technologies.
On the sidelines of the summit, Modi also met Sundar Pichai, discussing AI collaboration and opportunities for Indian students and professionals.
The two-day Leaders’ segment of the summit begins on Thursday.
In the evening, he welcomed the dignitaries at Bharat Mandapam, the summit venue, and hosted a dinner. The leaders also attended cultural performances.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Leaders’ segment of the India AI Impact Summit. The opening session will also be addressed by French President Emmanuel Macron and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The programme includes a visit to the India AI Impact Expo 2026 and participation in the Leaders’ Plenary focusing on AI governance, infrastructure and international cooperation.
French President Macron arrived in New Delhi after talks with Modi in Mumbai. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam also reached the Capital.
During talks with Sánchez, the two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation across trade, technology, defence, space, renewable energy and cultural exchanges. They welcomed progress in the Tata–Airbus C-295 transport aircraft final assembly line at Vadodara and stressed defence industrial collaboration.
With Tobgay, Modi discussed cooperation in AI and digital technologies and reaffirmed India’s support for Bhutan’s development priorities.
In meetings with Karis and Orpo, discussions centred on technology partnerships, trade expansion, quantum and 6G collaboration, renewable energy and skilling. Talks with Plenković, Vučić and Bektenov covered defence, infrastructure, connectivity, manufacturing, energy and emerging technologies.
On the sidelines of the summit, Modi also met Sundar Pichai, discussing AI collaboration and opportunities for Indian students and professionals.
The two-day Leaders’ segment of the summit begins on Thursday.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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