Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi on Thursday, marking the beginning of his three-day visit to India. The tribute highlighted the shared values of peace, non-violence and human dignity that form part of the close relationship between India and Belgium. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that Gandhi's legacy continues to inspire people across the world.

De Wever arrived in New Delhi earlier in the day and was received by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth. This is his first visit to India since taking office in February last year. Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken is also part of the visiting delegation, reflecting the importance attached to defence and security cooperation between the two countries.

During his stay in New Delhi, De Wever is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The discussions are expected to cover the full range of India-Belgium relations, along with regional and global developments of mutual interest. The two sides are also expected to explore opportunities for expanding cooperation across several strategic and economic areas.

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The Belgian Prime Minister will also deliver a keynote address at a Confederation of Indian Industry business event in the context of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. Trade and investment are among the key areas of engagement between India and Belgium, with the visit providing an opportunity to strengthen economic ties and encourage greater business cooperation.

After completing his engagements in New Delhi, De Wever will travel to Mumbai, where he is scheduled to meet stakeholders from sectors including diamonds, ports and logistics. His visit is expected to cover areas such as defence and security, technology, renewable energy, connectivity and people-to-people ties, while also contributing to wider India-EU and India-Europe engagement.

The visit comes as India and Belgium seek to expand their multifaceted partnership across strategic, economic and technological sectors. The discussions between the two countries are expected to provide fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation while strengthening coordination on issues of shared interest at the regional and international levels.

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