PM Modi said in Ethiopia Parliament: Strong partnership in matters of peace, security and connectivity

Addis Ababa. Describing India and Ethiopia as a confluence of ancient knowledge and modern aspirations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that both the countries will have to make united efforts to raise the voice of developing countries at the global level. Mr Modi addressed a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament here on Wednesday, the last day of his two-day visit to Ethiopia. Shri Modi, who is on his first bilateral visit to Ethiopia, described the opportunity to address the Parliament as a matter of pride and said, “Through this temple of democracy, he is interacting with the common citizens of Ethiopia, farmers, entrepreneurs, proud women and the youth who are shaping the future of the country.”

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the people and government of Ethiopia for conferring on him the ‘Great Honor Mark of Ethiopia’, Ethiopia’s highest honour. Referring to the importance of relations between the two countries, the Prime Minister expressed deep satisfaction that during this visit the ancient relations between the two countries have been given the status of strategic partnership. Recalling the civilizational ties between India and Ethiopia, the Prime Minister said that both the countries are a confluence of ancient knowledge and modern aspirations.

In this context, he said that the national song of India “Vande Mataram” and the national anthem of Ethiopia, both address their land as mother. Pointing to the common struggle of the two countries, the Prime Minister underlined the contribution of Indian soldiers who fought shoulder to shoulder with Ethiopian civilians for the liberation of Ethiopia in 1941. He said it was an honor for him to pay tribute to the Adwa Victory Memorial, a symbol of the sacrifices of the Ethiopian people. The Prime Minister expressed India’s commitment to further strengthen and broaden the India-Ethiopia partnership. He recalled the contribution of Indian teachers and Indian businesses to Ethiopia’s growth and prosperity. They shared India’s development experiences including digital public infrastructure, food processing and innovation and expressed India’s readiness to continue development cooperation in line with Ethiopia’s priorities.

Underscoring India’s commitment to the service of humanity rooted in the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family), he said it was a matter of pride for India to supply vaccines to Ethiopia during the COVID pandemic. The Prime Minister stressed that as countries of the ‘Global South’, India and Ethiopia must stand united to further strengthen the voice of developing countries. He expressed gratitude for Ethiopia’s solidarity in strengthening the fight against global terrorism. Noting Addis Ababa’s important role as the headquarters of the African Union, he said it will realize the dream of African unity.

The Prime Minister said India was honored to welcome the African Union as a permanent member during its G20 presidency. He pointed out that India-Africa relations have grown manifold during the 11 years of his government and there have been more than 100 visits between the two sides at the level of Heads of State and Government. He noted India’s deep commitment to Africa’s development and underlined its proposal at the Johannesburg G20 Summit to launch an “Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative” under which 1 million trainers will be trained in the continent.