Rome, Sep 17 (NationPress) On Wednesday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her heartfelt wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of his birthday, wishing him good health and vitality to continue guiding India towards a promising future while further enhancing the bond between the two countries.

Meloni shared a photo of herself with PM Modi on X, stating, "Wishing a happy 75th birthday to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His strength, determination, and ability to lead millions serve as an inspiration to many."

"With warmth and respect, I wish him good health and energy to keep steering India towards a bright future and to further solidify the relations between our nations," she continued.

Today marks PM Modi's 75th birthday. Born on September 17, 1950, in Mehsana, Gujarat, he held the position of Chief Minister of the state for three consecutive terms from 2001 to 2014. He is currently serving his third term as Prime Minister after his initial election in 2014.

The camaraderie between PM Modi and PM Meloni has garnered attention on social media, with their interactions giving rise to the trending hashtag Melodi.

On September 10, PM Modi had a telephone conversation with PM Meloni, during which they reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the India-Italy Strategic Partnership. Meloni also expressed her support for the upcoming AI Impact Summit that India will host in 2026.

During this conversation, PM Modi thanked Meloni for her backing in finalizing the trade agreement between India and the European Union (EU) and for promoting connectivity through the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEEC) initiative.

The two leaders exchanged thoughts on various regional and global issues. They agreed on the necessity for a swift and peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with PM Modi reiterating India's full support for these efforts.

"I had a productive conversation with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. We reaffirmed our commitment to deepen the India-Italy Strategic Partnership and shared our desire for an expedited resolution to the Ukraine conflict. I appreciated PM Meloni's proactive support for the India-EU trade agreement and the IMEEEC initiative," PM Modi posted on X following their call.

The Indian Prime Minister's Office (PMO) noted that both leaders positively reviewed the progress in their bilateral Strategic Partnership across various sectors, including investment, defense, security, space, science and technology, education, people-to-people relations, and counter-terrorism.

They reaffirmed their commitment to further enhancing their partnership, as outlined in the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29.

PM Modi last met Meloni during the 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, in June, where both leaders pledged to strengthen the ties between India and Italy.

Meloni had shared a photo with PM Modi on X, captioning it, "Italy and India, united by a strong friendship." A video captured PM Modi greeting Meloni with a handshake and engaging in a brief conversation during the summit.

In a post on X, PM Modi stated, "I completely agree with you, PM Giorgia Meloni. The friendship between India and Italy will continue to flourish, greatly benefiting our citizens!"