New Delhi/Addis A baba,17 December (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound gratitude to his Ethiopian counterpart, Abiy Ahmed Ali, for an illuminating tour of the National Palace Museum on Tuesday, where vivid glimpses into Ethiopia's storied history and vibrant culture underscored the nation's ancient traditions during his two-day state visit.
PM Modi's itinerary peaked with a ceremonial reception at the National Palace, capping extensive bilateral deliberations that propelled India-Ethiopia relations into a Strategic Partnership, as announced earlier that day.
He had touched down in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, December 16, to an extraordinary welcome from Abiy himself at the airport—a gesture of unparalleled warmth—followed by a scenic drive past the Science Museum and Friendship Park en route to his residence, amid streets adorned with Indian flags and celebratory banners.
This milestone trip, Modi's inaugural bilateral foray to Ethiopia since assuming office, anchors the second phase of his four-day, three-nation odyssey: Jordan from December 15-16, Ethiopia through December 17, and Oman thereafter, fortifying India's Global South engagements.
Beyond the museum's evocative artifacts—from imperial relics to Orthodox Christian treasures—Modi received Ethiopia's supreme civilian accolade, the 'Great Honour Nishan,' at the Addis Ababa International Convention Centre, honoring his role in fostering South-South synergy.
The palace ceremony symbolized advancing amity, complemented by pacts on AI capacity-building, doubled scholarships for Ethiopian students, agri-tech for food security, and Digital Public Infrastructure sharing, alongside upgrades to the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital.
As PM Modi prepares to depart for Oman, this visit heralds enduring collaboration rooted in shared democratic ethos and prosperity aspirations.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
