PM, Narendra Modi receives ceremonial welcome in UAE

mangaloretoday.com

UAE, Aug 16: Modi was received by Shaikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at the airport, in a departure from the protocol. Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit this strategic Gulf nation in 34 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today arrived in the United Arab Emirates for a two-day visit, the maiden visit and the first by an Indian PM in 34 years. Modi hopes to lay the path for building a strategic partnership with the Gulf country during his visit during which he will make a major outreach to the 2.6 million strong Indian community.

The UAE too is attaching considerable significance to Modi’s visit. Shaikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi crown prince and Deputy Commander of the UAE armed forces was at the Abu Dhabi presidential airport to receive him, underlining the importance attached by the UAE to his visit. Modi’s first stop will be the Sheikh Zayed grand mosque. Later in the day, he will visit a labour camp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Hello UAE. I am very optimistic about this visit. I am confident the outcomes of the visit will boost India-UAE tweeted Narendra Modi

Modi has said that the Gulf region is vital for the economic, energy and security interests of India and made it clear that New Delhi wants to forge a strong strategic partnership with the UAE. Modi plans to engage with West Asia in a big way.

 “I have begun my regional engagement with the UAE. This tells you the importance that I attach to the UAE,” he told media before leaving for Abu Dhabi.

“We have a range of common security and strategic concerns in the region, including terrorism and extremism. So India and the UAE have everything to be a top priority for each other…..We have resolved to sustain regular high level engagement and build a strong and comprehensive strategic partnership,” he has said.

The two-day visit is aimed at boosting the energy, security, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.