NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday thanked Austria‘s Chancellor Karl Nehammer for his ‘significant milestone’ views on the upcoming maiden visit to his country and said that it is an ‘honour’ and is looking forward to discussing strengthening bonds between the two nation and exploring new avenues of cooperation.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Thank you, Chancellor @karlnehammer.It is indeed an honour to visit Austria to mark this historic occasion. I look forward to our discussions on strengthening the bonds between our nations and exploring new avenues of cooperation. The shared values of democracy, freedom and rule of law form the bedrock upon which we will build an ever closer partnership.”

Earlier on Saturday, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer termed PM Modi’s upcoming maiden visit to his country as “a significant milestone” coinciding with 75 years of bilateral diplomatic relations and an opportunity to discuss closer cooperation on the “many geopolitical challenges.”
PM Modi will be travelling to Austria for his first visit on July 9 and 10, after his Moscow visit on July 8 and 9 at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit.
“I very much look forward to welcoming @narendramodi, the Prime Minister of India, the world’s largest democracy, next week in Vienna. This visit is a special honour as it marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in over forty years, and a significant milestone as we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations with India,” Nehammer posted on his X handle.
“We will have the opportunity to talk about further deepening our bilateral relationship and closer cooperation on the many geopolitical challenges,” the Chancellor added.
Notably, this is the first visit in over 40 years by any Indian PM.
Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra expressed confidence and said that this trip would help us broaden the scope of our partnership, along with helping to address issues of regional and global importance of mutual interest
“The visit, we are confident, will allow us to discuss various areas of importance in bilateral engagement as well as issues of regional and global importance of mutual interest and help broaden the scope of our partnership,” said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on PM Modi’s first visit to Austria.
Addressing a special briefing on Friday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said, “On the second leg of the trip, the Prime Minister will be visiting Austria on July 9-10 at the invitation of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer.”
“This will be Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to Austria. The Prime Minister had met the then Austrian Chancellor, who is now the Foreign Minister, Alexander Schallenberg, on October 2021, on the sidelines of COP26 in Glasgow. Prime Ministerial visit, I must mention, from India to Austria took place more than 40 years ago,” said the Foreign Secretary on PM visit, as quoted by ANI news agency.
During his visit, PM Modi will meet Austria’s President, Alexander Van der Bellen, and hold delegation-level talks with officials.
“In terms of programming elements, the Prime Minister, besides the ceremonial welcome being accorded to him, would also call on the President of Austria and hold restricted delegation-level talks as well as high-level business engagement in Austria,” said the Foreign Secretary.