NEW DELHI: In a delightful blend of diplomacy and nostalgia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with a packet of India's iconic Parle Melody toffees during their bilateral meeting in Rome on Wednesday. The simple yet thoughtful gesture quickly went viral, reviving the popular internet meme "#Melodi" and adding a layer of sweetness to the growing India-Italy partnership.

The moment unfolded at the historic Villa Doria Pamphili, where the two leaders held extensive talks as part of Modi's five-nation tour. Meloni, visibly amused, shared a video on the social media platform X, expressing her gratitude. "Thank you for the gift," she wrote, captioning the clip where she enthusiastically shows the packet. In the video, Meloni says, "Prime Minister Modi brought us a gift... a very, very good toffee Melody." Modi joins in, and the duo laugh as they pronounce the name together, echoing the playful portmanteau of their surnames that has captured global attention in previous meetings.

Melody, a chocolate-caramel toffee launched by Parle Products in 1983, has now earned a place in international diplomacy. The brand's tagline, "Sweetening relationships since 1983," took on new meaning as Parle Products responded warmly on social media.

Beyond the light-hearted exchange, the meeting carried significant substance. Modi and Meloni upgraded India-Italy ties to a Special Strategic Partnership, aiming to boost bilateral trade to over €20 billion by 2029. Discussions focused on key areas including defence, clean energy, artificial intelligence, space cooperation, critical minerals, and the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

The leaders reviewed the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 and explored avenues in maritime transport, agriculture, and education. Prime Minister Modi also visited the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) headquarters to reinforce India's commitment to global food security.