NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Brussels on March 30 for the long-pending India-EU summit, despite the string of explosions that rocked Belgium’s capital city.
New Delhi announced Modi’s visit to Brussels as part of a three-nation tour, including to the US and Saudi Arabia, strongly condemning the attack on the city’s airport and metro system, in which two Indians were injured.
“We condemned the attack with the strongest possible terms. We stand in solidarity with the people and government of Belgium. We offer our condolences to the families of the victims. Terrorism is a global scourge and the attack in Belgium underscores once again the need to counter it unitedly,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
The Prime Minister is visiting Brussels to attend the 13th India-EU Summit which had last taken place in 2012. Mourning the victims of the tragedy, Modi tweeted, “News from Brussels is disturbing. The attacks are condemnable. Condolences to families of the deceased. May those injured recover quickly.” Brussels will be Modi’s first stop, from where he will travel to Washington to attend the Nuclear Security Summit and will then head to Saudi Arabia, a key partner of India in the Gulf region.
The India-EU Summit aims to deepen the India-EU strategic partnership and advance collaboration in priority areas, Swarup said. Modi will also hold a bilateral Summit meeting with his Belgian counterpart Charles Michel. Belgium is India’s second largest trade partner within the EU. Meanwhile, India warned its citizens against travelling to the country.