India, Cyprus elevate ties to Strategic Partnership

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cyprus's President Nikos Christodoulides met in New Delhi on Friday. There were several highlights of the bilateral engagements. The ties between the two countries have been elevated to a strategic partnership. Now, India's Unified Payments Interface will be operational in Cyprus from next year.

[00:00:21]Cooperation will be deepened in education, innovation, and defense.

[00:00:26]Shubhendu Ghosh has more.

[00:00:30]India-Cyprus friendship was in focus on Friday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in New Delhi. This is President Christodoulides' first visit to India in his current capacity. The two leaders met at Hyderabad House.

[00:00:49]PM Modi and President Christodoulides elevated India-Cyprus relationship to strategic partnership. They held discussions on trade and investment, defense and security, maritime and financial connectivity, technology and innovation, mobility, education, culture, and India-EU engagement. Both leaders reiterated their commitment in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism. Also, India's UPI will be operational in Cyprus from next year.

[00:01:25]India and Cyprus inked six agreements, MoU on establishing joint working group on terrorism, MoU in the field of diplomatic training, MoU on innovation and technology, technical arrangement for official coordination on search and rescue operations, MoU in the field of higher education and research, MoU on cultural cooperation.

[00:01:50]Addressing the joint press meet, Prime Minister Modi said the trust between the two countries has increased with India European Union free trade agreement numerous new possibilities have emerged.

[00:02:37]Cyprus president said both sides have agreed on a joint action plan 2025-2029 aimed at deepening bilateral ties across infrastructure, shipping and economic cooperation.

[00:02:50]I'm very pleased that building on the joint declaration on the implementation of our strategic partnership agreed during Prime Minister's visit last year.

[00:03:01]Our two countries signed today a series of memoranda of understanding and a road map to further deepen cooperation across strategic sectors.

[00:03:14]Together, these agreements reflect both the breadth of our partnership and our shared commitment.

[00:03:23]In the morning, the visiting dignitary from Cyprus paid floral tributes to father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. In a candid moment, Cyprus president also took a selfie with Prime Minister Modi and then proceeded for the talks.

[00:03:40]Earlier, external affairs minister Dr. S Jaishankar called on Cypriot president.

[00:03:46]India and Cyprus will mark 65 years of diplomatic relations in February next year.

[00:03:53]There is a positive momentum in the ties between India and Cyprus with the visit of President Christodoulides with special focus on education, innovation, and defense. The relationship between the countries has been elevated to strategic partnership and both the countries have promised to be force multiplier for one another on diverse bilateral and multilateral forums. With camera person Rajesh Shubendu Ghosh for DD India, New Delhi.