Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to Palestine, the UAE and Oman from Friday, as part of his West Asia and Gulf outreach. He will also make a brief stopover in Jordan. This will be his fifth visit to the region since he took over as Prime Minister.
Here are the latest updates:
PM's schedule in Palestine and UAE
(local timings)
1010 hrs: Arrival at Ramallah
1015 hrs: Wreath laying ceremony at the Mausoleum of late President Yasser Arafat and tour of the Yasser Arafat Museum
1045 hrs: Ceremonial Guard of Honour
1100 hrs: Meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine
1145 hrs: Working lunch
1240 hrs: Exchange of agreements / MOUs and press statements
1310 hrs: Depart for Queen Alia International Airport Amman
1345 hrs: Emplane for Abu Dhabi from Amman
1830 hrs: Arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Ceremonial Reception
1915 hrs: One-to-One Meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
2005 hrs: Signing / Exchange of 2015 agreements
2030 hrs: Banquet dinner hosted by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Jordan’s King Abdullah II here and said he had “wonderful” meeting that would further boost India-Jordan ties.
Mr. Modi arrived in Jordan on the first leg of his tour of three West Asian countries, including Palestine.
“Had a wonderful meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan. Our discussions today will give great strength to India-Jordan bilateral relations,” Mr. Modi tweeted after meeting the King.
During the meeting, Mr. Modi told the King that he is looking forward to his visit to India in February end.
The King, meanwhile, described the meeting as the beginning of a new chapter in the bilateral ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Jordan. “We arrived in Amman. I am very grateful to His Majesty King Abdullah II for facilitating flight and access,” Mr. Modi tweeted after landing in Amman.
Mr. Modi was received by Jordan Prime Minister Hani Al-Mulki. “Prime Minister Modi warmly received by Prime Minister of Jordan on his arrival in Amman. This is Modi’s first visit to the country and also the first visit by an Indian PM in 30 years. India and Jordan enjoy friendly ties since diplomatic relations were established in 1950,” Raveesh Kumar, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, tweeted.
Mr. Modi leaves for Jordan.
"Redefining our neighbourhood from a maritime perspective! PM Narendra Modi embarks on a 4-day visit to Jordan, Palestine, UAE & Oman from 9-12 February to deepen our multifaceted ties with the Gulf and West Asian region," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
Mr. Modi is expected to reach Jordan by 3 p.m.
India, UAE to ink 12 pacts
As many as 12 agreements will be signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE later this week as India and the oil-rich Gulf nation look to intensify economic cooperation, a top diplomat said.
The agreements will include areas like finance and skills development.
The Prime Minister will participate in the 6th World Government Summit in Dubai on February 10-11 in which India is a partner country.
Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Palestine, “historic and important”, the Palestinian presidency said Mr. Modi and President Mahmoud Abbas would hold talks on the latest developments in the political process in the region as also other international issues of “common concern“.
“I look forward to strengthening India’s growing and important ties with West Asia and the Gulf region through the visit,” Mr. Modi said in a Facebook post ahead of his tour.
“This region is a key priority in our external engagement. We enjoy vibrant multi-dimensional ties with the countries here,” he said.
