Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said a sculpture of India Gate made entirely of Belgian chocolate that he had planned to present to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not survive the journey to India.

Axar.az reports, citing Indian media, that speaking at a joint press conference with Modi in New Delhi on Thursday, De Wever said the chocolate sculpture was intended to symbolize the shared history and future partnership between Belgium and India.

"I had actually planned to present to Prime Minister Modi a fitting gift — a sculpture of India Gate entirely made out of the best Belgian chocolates. But, unlike the real India Gate, which has stood for almost a century, the chocolate version didn't even survive the journey to India," De Wever said.

"Chocolate is excellent for diplomacy, but not excellent for diplomatic travel, we noticed. But no worries, we have a back-up in Belgium, and one way or another, I will get it to Prime Minister Modi in one piece. That's an ambition I leave India with today," De Wever added.

He said the sculpture featured an enlarged section of the inscription commemorating Indian soldiers who fought and died in Flanders Fields during World War I.

De Wever, who is making the first visit to India by a Belgian prime minister in 20 years, described the trip as “meaningful” and said India had undergone enormous transformation during that period.