The ties between Cyprus and India are rooted in shared historical experiences. Forged through common struggles and strengthened by our joint commitment to democracy, and respect for international law. This State Visit, which transpires less than a year since Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Cyprus and takes place during the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, has not only confirmed the enormous potential of our relationship. It has also provided the space to advance it further. We build this strategic partnership on solid foundations, and a clear vision, as encapsulated in the Joint Declaration on the Implementation of our Strategic Partnership we agreed last year, which is already delivering tangible results across key sectors. This growing partnership builds also on the leaps of progress over the past year in EU-India relations, which culminated, in the first month of the Cyprus Presidency, when the political agreement was announced on concluding the milestone Free Trade Agreement. In fact, the Cyprus Presidency has placed EU-India relations, trade, connectivity at the forefront of our work, driven by our vision for a European Union that is truly Open to the World. It is in fact my firm conviction that, in an increasingly shifting geopolitical environment, the EU–India relationship will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century. A partnership that can help safeguard stability, resilience, connectivity, and the rules-based international order. 🇨🇾🇪🇺🇮🇳(NikosChristodoulides)