India and the Netherlands agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to the level of a strategic partnership following wide-ranging discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten in The Hague. During the talks, the two leaders reviewed cooperation across sectors including trade, defence, technology, water management, clean energy, healthcare and education.

Several agreements were also signed to deepen collaboration in priority areas. Announcing the elevation of ties to a strategic partnership, PM Modi said India-Netherlands ties had witnessed “significant progress” over the last decade and described the Netherlands as one of India’s key European partners. He said the relationship between the two countries is rooted in shared democratic values, strong economic cooperation and deep people-to-people connections.

Highlighting cooperation in sectors such as water management, healthcare and education, Mr Modi said, democratic values, market economy and responsible behavior are part of our common approach. Calling for greater collaboration in emerging sectors, PM Modi said, India and the Netherlands should combine Dutch expertise with India’s speed and skill to expand cooperation in innovation, sustainability, investment and defence.

Prime Minister said, the two countries need to take our cooperation in areas of innovation, investment, sustainability and defence to new heights. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten also stressed the growing importance of relations with India and backed stronger cooperation in economic and strategic sectors.