NEW DELHI — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s help on Thursday in facilitating “just peace” in Ukraine, as foreign ministers of some of the world’s largest economies met in New Delhi.

Meloni Thursday showered fulsome praise on Prime Minister Modi, referring to him as the “most loved leader around the world”.

She is on a state visit, seeking closer ties in the defense and economic sectors, and is being accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and a high-powered business delegation.

“The approval rating that Prime Minister Modi has reached ... he is the most loved one of all (leaders) around the world,” Meloni said, wrapping up her comments to the media after bilateral talks with her Indian counterpart.

“This has really been proven that he has been a major leader and congratulations for that,” she said.

Meloni’s two-day visit to India, the first by an Italian prime minister in five years, coincides with a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in the Indian capital where Russia’s year-long war in Ukraine have dominated discussions.

“We both share the hope that India as G20 president can play a central role in facilitating negotiations towards a ceasefire and a just peace,” Meloni told reporters at a joint briefing with Modi, praising him for “having the highest approval ratings in the world”.

Modi, who earlier in the day called on G20 ministers to find a common ground to global issues, said India was ready to contribute to efforts to restore peace.

“From the start of the Ukraine conflict itself, India has made it clear that this dispute can only be solved through dialogue and diplomacy, and India is fully ready to contribute to any peaceful response,” he said.

Modi also said that he discussed increasing cooperation in semiconductors, renewable energy and green hydrogen with Meloni.

India and Italy are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations this year and are looking to improve ties hurt by the 2012 shooting of two fishermen by Italian marines off the southern Indian coast. Relations had been cool for a long time.

India’s Supreme Court said in June 2021 that it had closed all proceedings against two Italian marines over the shooting after Rome paid $1.36 million in compensation.

Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre, who were arrested in February 2012 over the shooting, said the killings were accidental as they mistook the fishermen for pirates and fired warning shots while on duty on the Italian oil tanker “Enrica Lexie”.

The Indian court had earlier barred the Italian ambassador from leaving the country over the shooting, leading to a diplomatic spat between the countries.

Meloni said this was her first bilateral visit in this region after assuming office of the prime minister of Italy last year. Modi recalled his meeting with Meloni on the sidelines of the G20 Summit at Bali in Indonesia in November last year.

“I welcome Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on her first visit to India. In last year’s elections, the people of Italy voted for her and she became the first woman and youngest prime minister of Italy. I congratulate her on behalf of Indians for this historic achievement,” Modi said.

Meloni said Modi can rely on Italy’s full support for India’s G20 Presidency. “India can rely on our government to further enhance our relations. I firmly believe that there is a lot we can do together,” the Italian prime minister said. — Agencies