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Italian PM Giorgia Meloni revisits her memorable 2023 India visit in her new book, revealing New Delhi's warm welcome and why personal connections matter in diplomacy.
Meloni writes that the welcome she received was unlike anything she had expected. (Photo: Reuters)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has revealed an unforgettable welcome she received during her 2023 visit to India. Roads across New Delhi were lined with posters featuring her face and the word 'Welcome'. As she headed home, she noticed the same posters now carried a new message: 'Thank you for visiting.'
The anecdote appears in Giorgia's Vision, a book based on Meloni's conversations with journalist Alessandro Sallusti, reported news agency PTI. The warm reception even sparked a joke from Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani. "With all these posters, if you ran for the New Delhi constituency, you'd get a million votes," he quipped, according to Meloni's newly released book.
Recalling her March 2023 visit to India, Meloni writes that the welcome she received was unlike anything she had expected.
"When I arrived, there was a poster with my face and the word 'Welcome' every few feet along the road. When I left, the posters showed the same image, but now read 'Thank you for visiting'."
Meloni travelled to India twice in 2023. She first attended the eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue in March. She returned in September for the G20 Summit hosted by India.
HOW 'MELODI' TOOK OVER SOCIAL MEDIA
Her meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also evolved into a warm friendship. The two leaders' easy camaraderie soon became a talking point on social media, where users playfully coined the name 'Melodi' by blending their names.
Their friendly chemistry has frequently grabbed attention, both online and at international summits. During PM Modi's visit to Rome in May, he surprised Meloni with a packet of iconic Melody toffees -- a nod to the viral 'Melodi' name that had taken social media by storm. Delighted by the gesture, Meloni showed off the gift in a video, laughing as she said, "Prime Minister Modi brought us a gift... Melody."
Most recently, at the G7 Summit in France earlier this month, the two leaders were caught chatting before the official group photograph. In a hot mic moment that quickly went viral, Meloni smiled and told PM Modi, "We are the most famous couple on Instagram."
THE SECRET TO DIPLOMACY
In the chapter titled Head Held High Among the World Greats, Meloni said that successful diplomacy is not built only through official meetings and formal speeches. Instead, she believes genuine personal connections often create lasting political relationships.
"A few witty words, a personal story, a common interest -- it can make all the difference," she observes.
The book is filled with stories that support this idea. Meloni describes how informal conversations, hobbies and unexpected gestures helped her build trust with world leaders.
One of the most personal stories involves Tunisian President Kais Saied.
Meloni writes that after a nearly two-hour bilateral meeting, Saied invited her to admire the sea from his residence. She had resumed smoking after giving it up for 13 years and hesitantly asked whether she could light a cigarette.
The request completely changed the atmosphere.
"He was overjoyed! He pulled out his own pack of cigarettes, and that coffee and cigarette break became our moment," she recalls.
According to Meloni, some of her strongest diplomatic relationships have started during such informal breaks rather than inside meeting rooms.
HOW SMALL GESTURES CREATED BIG BONDS
The Italian leader also shares several stories about friendships with other global leaders.
She describes Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama as one of the most spontaneous people she has met. Fluent in Italian, Rama often exchanges messages with her about politics and current affairs.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who shares her appreciation for Italian wines, once surprised her with a bouquet of orange roses on her birthday.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also left a lasting impression. During the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, he gifted Meloni's daughter, Ginevra, a "giant Hello Kitty doll".
Another memorable moment came in Poland.
"When I visited Warsaw, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki -- knowing how much I love Tolkien -- took me for a coffee at a cafe themed after 'The Lord of the Rings'. We stood there talking about a huge, gorgeous map of Middle-earth," she added.
Meloni also recalls being deeply touched by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Before meeting her in Rome, he arranged for her memoir, I am Giorgia, to be translated into Uzbek and presented her with a bound copy.
- Ends
With inputs from PTI
Published By:
Satyam Singh
Published On:
Jun 25, 2026 18:36 IST
