Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed Personally Drives PM Modi To Airport, Bids Farewell After Landmark Visit | India News

ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on Wednesday once again personally took Narendra Modi to the airport and bid farewell to the Indian Prime Minister as he left for Muscat, the last leg of his tri-nation tour that started in Jordan. This warm send-off was the latest in a high-profile visit in which Prime Minister Modi received an extraordinary welcome in Ethiopia; This visit was described as the longest standing ovation in the Ethiopian Parliament following his speech. The prime minister’s speech received more than 50 rounds of applause from MPs in the Ethiopian parliament.

In a detailed press release, the Ministry of External Affairs said that Prime Minister Modi began his speech by conveying greetings of friendship and goodwill from the people of India to the Ethiopian MPs. He noted that it was a privilege to address the parliament and thereby speak to the people of Ethiopia, including farmers, entrepreneurs, women and youth who shape the future of the country.

The Prime Minister thanked the people and government of Ethiopia for bestowing upon him the Ethiopian Grand Order of Honor, the country’s highest honour. During the visit, he expressed satisfaction over the elevation of the age-old ties between India and Ethiopia to Strategic Partnership.

Recalling the deep ties of civilization, Prime Minister Modi said that both countries combine ancient wisdom with modern ambition. He noted that India’s national song “Vande Mataram” and Ethiopia’s national anthem refer to the land as mother and underline common values.

He also noted the contribution of Indian soldiers who fought alongside the Ethiopians in the liberation struggle of 1941 and said it was an honor to pay tribute at the Adwa Victory Monument. According to the MEA, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to forge a stronger partnership with Ethiopia, recalling the role of Indian teachers and businesses in the country’s development. He shared India’s experiences in digital public infrastructure, food processing and innovation and conveyed its readiness to continue development support in line with Ethiopia’s priorities.

Emphasizing India’s philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The world is one family), the Prime Minister said that it was a privilege for India to supply vaccines to Ethiopia during the Covid-19 outbreak. Prime Minister Modi also underlined that India and Ethiopia, as countries of the Global South, must stand together to raise the voices of developing countries. He thanked Ethiopia for its solidarity in the global fight against terrorism.

Emphasizing Addis Ababa’s role as the headquarters of the African Union, the Prime Minister said India was honored to host the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 during its presidency. He stated that India-Africa relations have deepened significantly in the last 11 years, with more than 100 visits at the level of Heads of State and Government. He also recalled the proposal at the Johannesburg G20 Summit to launch the Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative with the aim of training one million trainers across the continent. Prime Minister Modi is planned to arrive in Muscat soon and complete his three-country tour.