Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni once again have grabbed the global attention with their now-famous “Melodi” chemistry during the visit of PM Modi to Rome, the final stop of his five-nation diplomatic tour.
Ahead of the formal bilateral talks, the two leaders shared a relaxed evening in the Italian capital, which included a car ride through Rome, dinner discussion and a late-night visit to the iconic Colosseum. Pictures and videos from the evening quickly went viral on social media, with many users calling it another “Melodi moment.”
Meloni welcomed Modi warmly with a selfie and the message “Welcome to Rome, my friend,” further fueling online buzz around the friendship between the two leaders. During their informal interaction, the leaders reportedly exchanged views on India-Italy cooperation, trade, connectivity, and global issues before official talks scheduled in Rome.
However, it was a light-hearted gift from Modi which stole the spotlight online. The Prime Minister gifted Meloni a packet of Melody toffees, a playful reference to the viral “Melodi” nickname created from their surnames. Videos of the exchange spread rapidly across social platforms after Meloni described the candy as “very, very good.”
The gesture even sparked the unexpected market action back in India. Shares linked to the Parle industries nearly surged by 5% and hit the upper circuit as social media chatter around Melody toffees intensified after the Rome meeting.
Modi’s visit to Italy is also a strategically important visit. India and Italy are expected to strengthen their ties through a proposed “special strategic partnership,” with discussions focusing on trade, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), defence cooperation, and technology partnership.
Sources: The Times of India | The Hindustan Times
