Israel PM Bennett to visit India on April 3

The visit by the Prime Minister of Israel is expected to further strengthen the "excellent bilateral cooperation in diverse areas", including in agriculture, water, trade, education and science and technology, the MEA said.

New Delhi: Amid growing conflicts in the geopolitics of Europe and intense tension due to the Russia-Ukraine war, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Israeli counterpart Naftali Bennett will pay a visit to India on April 3 to 5.

The two leaders had earlier met on the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow in November 2021. They also had a telephonic conversation on August 16, 2021.

"The visit by Mr Bennett would be his first to India in his capacity as Prime Minister. This visit would take place on the occasion of the commemoration of 30 years of full diplomatic relations between India and Israel and 75 years of India's independence," an MEA statement said.

India and Israel elevated their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership during the historic visit of Prime Minister Modi to Israel
in July 2017.

Since then, the two countries have continued to deepen their strategic partnership, with a focus on innovation and research as two knowledge-based economies.

The visit by the Prime Minister of Israel is expected to further strengthen the "excellent bilateral cooperation in diverse areas",
including in agriculture, water, trade, education and science and technology, the MEA said.

PM Modi earlier enjoyed a fantastic personal rapport with Bennet's predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu.

After meeting with the Israeli counterpart last year, PM Modi tweeted: "Glad to have met, yet again, PM @naftalibennett. We had
fruitful talks on boosting India-Israel friendship in sectors such as research innovation and futuristic technologies. These sectors are
critical for empowering our youngsters."

The year 2022 also marks 30 years of the establishment of full diplomatic relations between India and Israel.