New Delhi/Addis Ababa, December 17 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described his visit to Ethiopia as “truly memorable”, saying it had imparted fresh momentum to India-Ethiopia ties and strengthened a relationship rooted in shared values, people-centric development and a common vision for the future.
In a post on X after concluding the visit, Prime Minister Modi reflected on his engagements, including talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and his address to the Ethiopian Parliament.
“As I conclude a truly memorable visit to Ethiopia, I carry with me the warmth of its people and the depth of our enduring friendship. This visit included productive discussions with Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali and the honour of addressing the Ethiopian Parliament,” he said.
Highlighting the outcomes, the Prime Minister said the visit had elevated bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, providing new impetus to cooperation across sectors. “This visit has given fresh momentum to India-Ethiopia ties and strengthened a relationship rooted in shared values and a common vision for the future. We have elevated our relations to a Strategic Partnership which will greatly benefit our nations,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude to the Ethiopian leadership and people for their hospitality, and thanked Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for personally coming to the airport to see him off.
The Ethiopia visit, the second leg of the Prime Minister’s three-nation tour, marked a significant expansion of bilateral engagement, with both sides agreeing on a forward-looking Strategic Partnership framework focused on growth and people-centric development.
In another post on X, Prime Minister Modi said the outcomes represented “significant steps forward” in a longstanding and trusted partnership. He noted that cooperation between India and Ethiopia spans governance, peacekeeping, digital capacity, education and healthcare, with the shared aim of empowering people and promoting inclusive growth.
“From governance and peacekeeping to digital capacity and education, the focus remains on empowering our people. The emphasis on knowledge, skills and innovation underscores our shared faith in youth as the drivers of tomorrow. Cooperation in healthcare reflects a deeper commitment to human dignity and care for the most vulnerable,” he said, adding that the outcomes reflect “an India-Ethiopia partnership focused on growth.”
During the visit, the two sides signed three Memoranda of Understanding in the areas of United Nations peacekeeping operations training, mutual administrative assistance in customs matters, and the establishment of a data centre at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An MoU on debt restructuring under the G20 Common Framework was also signed.
Additional measures announced included doubling scholarships for Ethiopian students under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations programme, offering specialised short-term courses in Artificial Intelligence under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation initiative, and enhanced cooperation in maternal and neonatal healthcare.
Prime Minister Modi was also conferred Ethiopia’s highest civilian honour, the Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia, becoming the first global head of state or government to receive the award. Thanking the people and government of Ethiopia, he said the honour belonged to the countless Indians who have contributed over the years to strengthening bilateral ties.
“To be honoured by one of the world’s most ancient and rich civilisations is a matter of immense pride. This honour belongs to the countless Indians who have shaped and strengthened our partnership over the years,” he said.
Cultural exchanges featured prominently during the visit. At a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Ethiopian singers rendered Vande Mataram, a moment Prime Minister Modi described as “deeply moving.”
Addressing a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s democratic and economic journey as a model for South-South cooperation, drawing attention to shared anti-colonial experiences and India’s long-standing engagement with Africa.
The elevation of ties to a Strategic Partnership formalises the growing breadth and depth of India-Ethiopia relations, aligning cooperation in areas such as trade, development, defence, agriculture, education and technology under a more structured framework. (ANI)
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