Indian PM Modi arrives in UAE to rousing welcome
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier on Tuesday received a rousing welcome as he arrived in Abu Dhabi. PM Modi was welcomed by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The two leaders shook hands and hugged each other. Prime Minister Modi also received a guard of honour.
Following the grand welcome, PM Modi and UAE President held a bilateral meeting, and several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged in their presence.
"Brother, firstly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for your warm welcome. We have met five times in the last seven months, which is very rare. I have also got the opportunity to come here seven times... the way we have progressed in every field, there is a joint partnership between India and UAE in every field," said PM Modi in the meeting with the UAE President.
India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra were among the Indian delegations present in the meeting.
Ahead of his departure, the prime minister took to social media plaform X to post that he is looking forward to meeting with his "brother" the President of UAE with whom he shares a good rapport.
Prime Minister Modi posted on X, "Eager to meet my brother, @MohamedBinZayed. Over the next two days, I will be visiting UAE and Qatar to attend various programmes, which will deepen India's bilateral relations with these nations."
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal took to X, emphasising that PM Modi's first leg of the visit in the UAE will entail engagements with UAE leadership and community members, and the inauguration of BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi.
This visit also marks the third by the PM to the Gulf country in the past eight months, as per a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs Minister.
Apart from meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, PM Modi will also attend the World Government Summit 2024, where he will deliver a special keynote address.
"My discussions with Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on the margins of Summit will focus on strengthening our multifaceted ties with Dubai," the Prime Minister said in a statement ahead of his departure.
He will also inaugurate the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. "The BAPS temple will be an enduring tribute to the values of harmony, peace and tolerance, which both India and the UAE share," the PM said.
The Prime Minister will address the Indian diaspora in Abu Dhabi at the Zayed Sports City Stadium later on Tuesday.
The 'Ahlan Modi' or 'Hello Modi' event, organized by the Indian community in Abu Dhabi, has gathered unprecedented attention, with over 65,000 registrations received, reflecting the overwhelming response from the Indian expatriate community.
PM Modi will be in the UAE from February 13-14 after which he will proceed to Doha.
(ANI)