Narendra Modi to go ahead with Brussels visit on 30 March

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Brussels on 30 March for the 13th India-European Union (EU) summit, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday, a day the Belgian capital was rocked by multiple blasts that claimed 26 lives and injured many more, including two Indians.

Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup, who condemned the attacks, said Modi will hold talks with European Council president Donald Tusk and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker. He will also meet Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel in Brussels.

“We stand in solidarity with the people and government of Belgium... Terrorism is a global scourge and the attack in Belgium underscores once again the need to counter it unitedly,” Swarup said.

Two explosions, at least one likely caused by a suicide bomber, hit the departures area of Brussels’ Zaventem airport during the busy morning rush, collapsing the ceiling and sending panicked travellers rushing for cover. Belgian health minister Maggie de Block told Belgian media that 11 people were killed and 81 injured.

An hour later, another 15 people were killed and 55 injured in an explosion on a subway train not far from the headquarters of the European Union, a spokesman for the Brussels Metro said.

Jet Airways (India) Ltd said two of its staffers were injured in the multiple blasts at Brussels airport, and are currently receiving medical care. The airline uses Brussels as a hub for destinations in Europe and the US.

Giving details of Modi’s visit to Brussels, Swarup said the EU is India’s leading trade and investment partner and the biggest export destination.

“India and EU are also strategic partners since 2004. The 13th India-EU Summit aims to deepen the India-EU strategic partnership and advance collaboration in priority areas for India’s growth and development,” Swarup said.

The 13th India-EU Summit comes as both sides look to recast ties after the EU last year refused to confirm the dates proposed by India for a visit by Modi, on the back of a tussle with EU member Italy over the slow progress in India of the trial of two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen in 2012.

The stop in Brussels was to have taken place during Modi’s trip to France, Germany and Canada in April.

On the meeting with Michel, Swarup said, “The bilateral meeting between the two prime ministers will focus on further enhancing the economic partnership” between India and Belgium. The latter was India’s second largest trade partner within the EU.

After the visit to Brussels, Modi will proceed to Washington for the fourth Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) on 31 March-1 April, Swarup said.

“The Nuclear Security Summit process has been instrumental in focusing leaders’ level attention on the global threat posed by nuclear terrorism and the urgent measures required to prevent terrorists and other non-state actors from gaining access to sensitive nuclear materials and technologies. The 2016 summit is expected to take stock of the progress of the previous NSS work plans as also outline a future agenda,” a statement from the Indian foreign ministry said.

On the third and final leg of his trip, Modi will visit Saudi Arabia, the highest level Indian visit to the kingdom since a 2010 trip by his predecessor, Manmohan Singh.

Modi will hold talks with King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud “on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest”, Swarup said, adding that Saudi Arabia was India’s fourth largest trading partner with bilateral trade exceeding $39 billion in 2014-15.

Saudi Arabia is also India’s largest crude oil supplier, accounting for about one-fifth of India’s total imports, he said.

AP contributed to this story.