India and Slovakia Elevate Ties to Comprehensive Partnership

India and Slovakia on Monday elevated their bilateral relationship to the status of a Comprehensive Partnership following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico.

Announcing the elevation of ties, Modi said, "India and Slovakia decided to elevate ties to status of Comprehensive Partnership."

The Prime Minister said the upgraded relationship reflected the shared outlook of the two countries.

"Comprehensive Partnership between India and Slovakia symbolises our shared beliefs, shared priorities, and shared future," Modi said.

Modi also said India and the European Union would work towards concluding their proposed free trade agreement at the earliest.

"We will work towards earliest implementation of India-EU FTA," he said.

The announcement came during Modi's visit to Slovakia, the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country.

Expressing gratitude for the reception accorded to him, Modi praised Fico's role in strengthening bilateral ties.

"I express my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Fico for the warm and gracious welcome. He is not only an experienced leader but also a true friend of India. His friendship and unwavering commitment have played a special role in taking India-Slovakia relations to new heights," Modi said.

The Prime Minister described the visit as a landmark moment in relations between the two countries.

"I am pleased that meeting him today has given me the opportunity to witness a historic moment in our bilateral ties. This visit marks the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia," he said.