Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Christian Stocker on being sworn in as Austria’s new Federal Chancellor and expressed his eagerness to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.
Stocker officially took office after being sworn in at Hofburg on Monday, marking the end of Austria’s prolonged political uncertainty. His appointment comes as part of a newly formed coalition government comprising the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), Social Democrats, and the liberal Neos party, though challenging negotiations lie ahead.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Warmly congratulate Christian Stocker on being sworn in as the Federal Chancellor of Austria. The India-Austria Enhanced Partnership is poised to make steady progress in the years to come.” He further expressed his commitment to elevating India-Austria relations to new heights.
India and Austria have maintained close diplomatic ties since 1949, marking 70 years of bilateral relations in 2019. High-level visits have played a crucial role in strengthening this partnership. In September 2021, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited Vienna for the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, while in February 2019, Austria’s then Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl met with Sushma Swaraj in India to celebrate the diplomatic milestone.
With Stocker now in office, both countries are expected to deepen their diplomatic and economic collaboration.
–IANS
