Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday concluded his two-day visit to Ethiopia and departed for Muscat, Oman, marking the final leg of his three-nation tour that began in Jordan. In a notable personal gesture, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali once again drove PM Modi to the airport and bid him farewell as the Indian leader emplaned.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had earlier received PM Modi at the airport on Tuesday and personally drove him to his hotel, underscoring the warmth and closeness that marked the visit.
The departure capped a high-profile and substantive visit during which PM Modi received an exceptional reception in Ethiopia. His address to a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament was met with prolonged applause, including what officials described as the longest standing ovation in the House, with lawmakers applauding him more than 50 times during the speech.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), PM Modi began his address by conveying greetings of friendship and goodwill from the people of India to Ethiopian lawmakers and citizens. He thanked the Ethiopian government and people for conferring on him the country’s highest civilian honour, the ‘Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia’, and welcomed the elevation of India-Ethiopia ties to a Strategic Partnership level during the visit.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed planted a sapling at the Ethiopian House of People’s Representatives under India’s ‘Ek Ped, Maa Ke Naam’ initiative. PM Modi also laid a wreath at the Adwa Victory Monument and visited the Adwa Museum, where he was briefed on Ethiopia’s history and struggle for self-determination.
In a post on X, PM Modi said it was a “great honour and privilege” to address the Ethiopian Parliament and reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening ties with Ethiopia, guided by shared values, mutual trust and a common vision for peace, development and cooperation.
(With agency inputs)
