Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on Thursday, highlighting the importance of Gandhian values in fostering ties between India and Venezuela.
In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “A tribute to the lasting legacy of Bapu. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez of Venezuela paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat this afternoon. Bapu’s ideals continue to inspire India-Venezuela partnership.”
Earlier in the day, Rodriguez held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, during which the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and explored opportunities to expand cooperation across a range of sectors.
According to the MEA, the discussions focused on areas including energy, trade, investment, healthcare and automobiles. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and advancing the interests of the Global South.
Sharing details of the meeting on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “PM Narendra Modi held wide-ranging discussions with Acting President Delcy Rodriguez of Venezuela today. The leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explored new avenues of cooperation in energy, trade, investment, healthcare, automobiles among others.”
“The leaders also exchanged views on global and regional issues of mutual interest. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the bilateral partnership and advancing the interests of the Global South,” he added.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met Rodriguez and reiterated India’s commitment to strengthening relations with Venezuela.
In a post on X following the meeting, Jaishankar said, “Pleased to call on Acting President Delcy Rodriguez of Venezuela in New Delhi today. Deeply value her longstanding commitment to the India-Venezuela relationship. Her meeting with PM Narendra Modi will further strengthen our cooperation.”
Rodriguez arrived in New Delhi on June 3 for a five-day working visit aimed at deepening bilateral engagement. She is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Venezuela’s ministers for foreign affairs, economy and finance, science and technology, communication and information, and transportation.
According to the MEA, the delegation will also visit facilities linked to India’s energy, pharmaceutical and automobile sectors to explore opportunities for collaboration and gain insights into the country’s technological and industrial capabilities.
The ministry noted that India and Venezuela share longstanding ties, particularly in the energy sector, with Indian public sector companies maintaining investments in Venezuela and exploring opportunities to expand their presence in the country.
(With IANS inputs)
