New Delhi, 12 September (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali in New Delhi on Saturday on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit hosted by India.

The meeting gave the two leaders an opportunity to review the progress of India-Ethiopia relations and discuss areas of mutual interest. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is in New Delhi to participate in the BRICS Summit, which brings together leaders from member and partner countries to discuss major global and economic issues.

India and Ethiopia share longstanding diplomatic relations and have expanded cooperation in several areas, including trade, investment, agriculture, education, healthcare, technology and capacity building.

The relationship has also gained importance through India's engagement with African countries and its efforts to strengthen cooperation with nations of the Global South. Ethiopia's participation in BRICS has provided an additional platform for the two countries to coordinate on issues of common interest.

During the meeting, the leaders discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral engagement and explore new opportunities for cooperation. Their talks also took place against the backdrop of India's broader efforts to deepen its relations with African partners.

India has maintained a development-oriented partnership with Ethiopia through initiatives involving human-resource development, training, education and technical cooperation. Indian institutions and businesses have also contributed to Ethiopia's economic and industrial development.

The two leaders have previously held discussions on strengthening bilateral relations. At the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, Modi and Abiy discussed cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, defence, agriculture, information technology, skills development and people-to-people ties.

The latest meeting in New Delhi comes at a significant time as India hosts the BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13. The gathering is focused on strengthening cooperation among emerging economies and addressing shared challenges facing the developing world.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar