Photo credit: PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed a joint session of the Parliament of Ethiopia, becoming the 18th parliament in the world where he has delivered a speech. Speaking in Addis Ababa, the Prime Minister hailed Ethiopia as the “land of lions” and said he felt at home in the country, drawing a parallel with his home state, Gujarat, which is also known for its lions.
“It is a moment of great privilege for me to stand before you today. I feel honoured to be here in the temple of democracy, in the heart of a nation with ancient wisdom and modern aspirations,” PM Modi said, adding that he carried the greetings of 1.4 billion Indians. “I come to you with big respect for your Parliament, for your people and your democratic journey.”The Prime Minister highlighted the shared cultural and civilisational links between India and Ethiopia. “India’s national song Vande Mataram and Ethiopia’s national anthem, both refer to our land as the Mother. They inspire us to take pride in the heritage, culture, beauty and protect the motherland,” he said. PM Modi also emphasised the importance of people-centred governance, stating, “When the wheel of the state moves in harmony with the wheel of the people, the wheel of progress moves forward with hope and purpose. Through you, I am also speaking to farmers in the fields, to entrepreneurs building new ideas, to proud women leading communities and institutions, and to the young people of Ethiopia who are shaping the future. ”During the visit, the Prime Minister was conferred the Grand Honour Nishan of Ethiopia, the country’s highest civilian award, by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. Thanking him for the honour, PM said “I accept this honour with folded hands and humility on behalf of the people of India,”.PM Modi’s address followed a series of engagements, including wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on Tuesday, during which India and Ethiopia elevated their bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership. Discussions focused on cooperation in food and health security, capacity building, Digital Public Infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, medical tourism, energy, and critical minerals.At a banquet hosted in his honour, Ethiopian singers performed Vande Mataram, a performance PM Modi described as “deeply moving, that too at a time when we are marking 150 years of Vande Mataram,” sharing the moment on X.PM Modi is also scheduled to visit the Adwa Museum and pay his respects at the Adwa Victory Memorial later on Wednesday, highlighting the historical ties between India and Ethiopia.(With inputs from ANI) Go to Source
