G7 Summit: Italy PM Giorgia Meloni prefers Namaste over handshake, greets leaders with folded hands
G7 Summit: Italy PM Giorgia Meloni prefers Namaste over handshake, greets leaders with folded hands
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took the internet by storm on Thursday (June 13) after her videos of greeting several leaders during the summit of Group of Seven(G7) with a 'Namaste' gesture went viral.
In the pictures and videos, she can be seen greeting President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz with folded hands.
Several Indian netizens expressed joy over Meloni accepting and preferring the Indian way of greeting people instead of a handshake.
Namaste at G7 Italy summit: Italian PM Meloni with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pic.twitter.com/OSPRq3C42U — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 13, 2024
One of the social media users quipped, "Meloni Namaste karna sikh gayi" (Meloni learnt the Namaste gesture).
The netizens also expressed excitement over Meloni and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting as the cheerful friendliness between the two leaders had sparked a social media frenzy in the past as well.
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Some netizens believed that this was "Modi's magic". A user wrote, "Eagerly waiting for Modi and Meloni to come together."
Giorgia Meloni preferring 'Namaste' over a handshake 😄 pic.twitter.com/d3ceav0UEe — Meme Farmer (@craziestlazy) June 13, 2024
'Glad my first visit in 3rd term is to Italy', says PM Modi
Meanwhile, PM Modi who left for Italy for the G7 Summit said he was glad that his first foreign visit after assuming office for the third consecutive term was to Italy.
"At the invitation of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, I am travelling to the Apulia region in Italy to participate in the G7 Outreach Summit on 14 June 2024. I am glad that my first visit in the third consecutive term is to Italy for the G-7 Summit," read the statement.
At the invitation of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, I am travelling to Apulia region in Italy to participate in the G7 Outreach Summit on 14 June 2024. I am glad that my first visit in the third consecutive term is to Italy for the G-7 Summit...During the discussions at the… pic.twitter.com/4g8dA6U0nP — ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2024
"I am glad that my first visit in the third consecutive term is to Italy for the G-7 Summit. I warmly recall my visit to Italy for the G20 Summit in 2021. Prime Minister Meloni's two visits to India last year were instrumental in infusing momentum and depth in our bilateral agenda. We remain committed to consolidate the India-Italy strategic partnership, and bolster cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the Mediterranean regions," it added.
The statement further highlighted that the discussions at the Outreach session will focus on artificial intelligence, energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean.
(With inputs from agencies)