Chisinau (Moldova), 21 July (H.S.): President Droupadi Murmu has concluded the first leg of her three-nation state visit in Moldova and is set to begin a two-day visit to North Macedonia. Before departing for North Macedonia, President Murmu attended a state banquet in Chisinau hosted in her honour by Moldovan President Maia Sandu. She also interacted with members of the Indian community in Moldova.

The information was shared through the official X handle of the President of India. In a post, the President's office said, Before departing for North Macedonia, President Droupadi Murmu attended the banquet hosted in her honour by the President of Moldova in Chisinau. Another post stated that President Murmu interacted with members of the Indian community in Chisinau, who welcomed her warmly and enthusiastically.

Notably, this is the first-ever visit by an Indian President to Moldova. After concluding her engagements in North Macedonia, President Murmu will travel to Romania. During her stay in Moldova, she held bilateral talks with President Maia Sandu and led delegation-level discussions. Accompanying the President on the state visit are Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, Rajya Sabha Member Dr. Dinesh Sharma, and Lok Sabha Member Vijay Baghel.

President Murmu arrived at Chisinau International Airport on the morning of July 20, where she was received by Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mihai Popșoi. She was later accorded a ceremonial welcome by President Maia Sandu at the Presidential Palace and received a Guard of Honour. During both the one-on-one meeting and the delegation-level talks, the two leaders held comprehensive and forward-looking discussions covering all aspects of bilateral cooperation.

The two Presidents agreed to further strengthen collaboration in several areas of mutual interest, including agriculture, logistics and infrastructure, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and innovation.

President Murmu also addressed the India-Moldova Business Forum, where she said that India, as it moves towards its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, seeks to build partnerships founded on trust, mutual respect, and shared prosperity.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar