Modi made the remarks after holding wide-ranging talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb
New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said conflicts cannot be resolved through military means alone and stressed the need for dialogue and diplomacy while referring to the wars in West Asia and Ukraine.
Speaking after talks with Alexander Stubb at Hyderabad House, Modi said India and Finland, as democracies committed to the rule of law, supported continued peace efforts to end conflicts.
“India and Finland both believe in the rule of law, dialogue, and diplomacy. We are in agreement that no issue can be resolved solely through military conflict. Whether in Ukraine or in West Asia, we will continue to support every effort aimed at the early end of conflict and the restoration of peace,” Modi said.
The two countries elevated bilateral relations to a “Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability” and signed three agreements, including a migration and mobility pact aimed at facilitating the movement of Indian professionals, particularly in technology and innovation sectors.
Both sides also agreed to expand cooperation in trade, defence, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and space, and set a target to double bilateral trade by 2030. They also announced the creation of a joint task force on 6G as part of eight cooperation initiatives.
Modi said the partnership would deepen cooperation in high-technology sectors such as AI, 6G telecommunications, clean energy and quantum computing, while also strengthening collaboration in defence, semiconductors, space and critical minerals.
He noted that the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement would further enhance trade, investment and technology cooperation between India and Finland.
Highlighting existing cooperation, Modi referred to the presence of Nokia in India’s telecom sector and collaboration with Finnish architects in constructing the Chenab Rail Bridge. He also mentioned the bamboo-to-bioethanol refinery at Numaligarh developed with Finnish partnership.
On people-to-people ties, the Prime Minister said Finland was becoming an increasingly preferred destination for Indian students and professionals. The migration and mobility agreement, he said, would help connect innovation ecosystems in both countries and promote joint research and start-up collaboration.
Modi also said Finland was an important partner for India in the Nordic region and that both countries would enhance cooperation in Arctic and polar research. He announced that India and Finland would jointly host the World Circular Economy Forum in India.
In his remarks, President Stubb described India as an “economic miracle” and one of the fastest-growing economies, and expressed support for reforms of the United Nations and a permanent seat for India on the United Nations Security Council.
He also criticised Russia for what he described as its “war of aggression on Ukraine”.
