Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrived in Rome on Tuesday for the final leg of his five-nation tour.While sharing a picture with PM Modi on X, Meloni wrote, Welcome to Rome my friend!An Italian government official said the visit marks an important diplomatic engagement as India and Italy look to strengthen bilateral ties and elevate their ties to a Special Strategic Partnership.Like many European countries, Italy is also seeking deeper engagement with India amid changing geopolitical dynamics. The European Union finalized a long-pending trade deal with India earlier this year, partly aimed at reducing dependence on the United States, Reuters reported.Click here to get live updates on PM Modi’s visit PM Modi’s visit is his first bilateral visit to Italy, although he had previously visited the country for the G7 summit in 2024 and the G20 meeting three years ago. During his stay, he is scheduled to meet Meloni on Wednesday at the historic 17th-century Villa Doria Pamphili.In a post on X after landing in Rome, PM Modi said the discussions would focus on strengthening India-Italy cooperation, especially in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).IMEC, launched through a 2023 memorandum of understanding involving partners including the European Union and the United States, aims to develop integrated trade routes connecting India with the Arabian Gulf and Europe.Read this also Italy and India: A Strategic Partnership for the India-MediterraneanThe official said the two leaders are expected to adopt a joint declaration to deepen the strategic partnership, including annual summit-level meetings and a goal of increasing bilateral trade to 20 billion euros ($23.2 billion) by 2029.According to the Italian Embassy in New Delhi, bilateral trade between the two countries is expected to exceed 14 billion euros in 2023.India and Italy, which upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership in 2023, have expanded cooperation in areas including artificial intelligence, scientific research, trade and defence.During the visit, PM Modi and Meloni will also attend a working lunch with senior executives of major Indian and Italian industrial groups to explore opportunities in investment, technology and manufacturing.A number of agreements are expected to be signed covering maritime transport, agriculture, higher education, critical minerals, museum cooperation and efforts to combat economic and financial crime, the official said.The two leaders will also exchange views on key global issues including the Middle East conflict, the Ukraine war and security in the Indo-Pacific region.PM Modi also said he plans to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella and visit the headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).On reaching Rome, PM Modi was warmly welcomed by the Indian diaspora. He interacted with community members and watched cultural performances at his hotel.The Prime Minister was also presented a painting of the Ghats of Varanasi by an Italian artist inspired by Indian culture, which symbolizes the cultural ties between the two countries.PM Modi’s visit comes amid growing momentum in India-Italy relations, with both sides pursuing a Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 covering trade, defence, energy, innovation and people-to-people exchanges.Earlier in his tour, PM Modi visited Norway followed by Sweden, Netherlands and UAE.