Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday arrived in Ethiopia on the second leg of his three-nation tour. This marks his maiden bilateral visit to the African nation. The visit is being seen as a significant step in deepening India’s political, economic and developmental engagement with Africa.
Modi was received at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, who accorded him a warm welcome. In an unusual personal gesture, Abiy Ahmed himself drove PM Modi to his hotel and later accompanied him to the Ethiopian capital. These visits were not part of the official itinerary and were widely viewed as symbolic of the personal rapport between the two leaders. In a post on social media, Modi expressed appreciation for the warm reception.
“I look forward to engaging with the Ethiopian leadership to further strengthen our partnership in diverse areas,” he posted.