PM Modi in Palestine: The Prime Minister held a press statement with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off his four-day visit to Palestine, the UAE, and Oman on Friday. PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister on an official visit to Palestine. He arrived in Ramallah city, the headquarters of the Palestine National Authority, this afternoon and met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has described the visit as "significant". Addressing a joint press briefing with President Abbas, PM Modi said "India hopes to see an independent Palestinian state soon, is committed to their well-being."
On Friday, PM Modi had met Jordan's King Abdullah II in Amman and said he had a "wonderful" meeting him.
"Had a wonderful meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan. Our discussions today will give great strength to India-Jordan bilateral relations," PM Modi had tweeted after meeting the King.
Here are the highlights on PM Modi's three-nation visit to West Asian countries:
Two MoUs were signed on cooperation in the fields of manpower and transportation. A separate MoU was signed between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Jammu & Kashmir government. An agreement was also signed between ONGC and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) on offshore oil concessions.
India, UAE sign five agreements
India and the UAE signed five agreements, including in the areas of energy and transportation, following delegation-level talks headed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
MoU between Indian Consortium and ADNOC was signed for acquisition of 10% participating interest in offshore Lower Zakum Concession from 2018 to 2057, It's the first Indian investment in upstream oil sector of UAE, transforming buyer-seller relationship to long-term investor relationship, said the ministry of external affairs.
Delegation level talks led by PM Narendra Modi and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahya commences.
PM Modi receives a ceremonial welcome in Abu Dhabi
PM Modi is scheduled to hold talks with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan later on Saturday evening, following which several agreements will be signed.
PM Modi arrives in Abu Dhabi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi departs for Jordan from Palestine
India hopes to see an independent Palestinian state soon, is committed to well-being of its people, says PM Modi
We have started a tech park in Ramallah, work is happening at a quick pace: PM Modi
India has been helping Palestine in training, technology, infra development and budgetary support. We have started a tech park in Ramallah and the work happening at a quick pace. I am happy that with this visit, we are giving a boost to our mutual developmental goals.
"This honour represents India-Palestine friendship": PM Modi
Prime Minister Modi was presented with the Great Collar in Palestine today said that the honour represented India-Palestine friendship. He further thanked Palestine on behalf of all the Indians.
The Palestinian president also that wished a lifetime of success and happiness to PM Modi and to the republic of India and its people prosperity and a long lived friendship between the people of India and Palestine.
"India has always stood by the side of righteousness, peace in Palestine": President Mahmoud Abbas
"Your visit reaffirms the depth of our historical relationship. India has always stood by the side of righteousness and peace in Palestine. It was the first country to recognise the state of Palestine in 1988. Here I would like to reassure out commitment to political actions and negotiation as a means of achieving our national goals for two-state solution along the lines of the 1967 talks. We still say that we are already engaged in negotiations. We rely on India's role as an international force of great standing through its historical role in the non-aligned movement," says President Mahmoud Abbas.
India and Palestine hold a joint press statement, sign agreements
The commendation addressed to PM Modi reads: "In recognition of his wise leadership and his lofty national and international stature, and in appreciation of his efforts to promote the historic relations between the State of Palestine and the Republic of India. In acknowledgement of his support to our people's right to independence and freedom so that peace prevails in the region. In acknowledgement of his support to our people's right to independence and freedom so that peace prevails in the region."
PM Modi receives the Grand Collar in Palestine - the highest order given to foreign dignitaries
In a special recognition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's contribution to relations between India and Palestine, President Abbas conferred the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine on him after the conclusion of their bilateral meeting. The Grand Collar is the Highest order given to foreign dignitaries- Kings, Heads of State/Government and persons of similar rank.
In a first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister, PM Modi was escorted by Royal Jordanian choppers by the King and Israeli choppers on way to Palestine, news agency ANI reported.
As he visited Ramallah, PM Modi tweeted in Arabic and said the visit would strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Describing the Gulf and West Asia region was a "key priority" in India's external engagement, PM Modi ahead of his visit said his trip was aimed at strengthening ties with the region, news agency PTI reported.
"This region is a key priority in our external engagement. We enjoy vibrant multi-dimensional ties with the countries here. I look forward to strengthening India's growing and important ties with West Asia and the Gulf region through the visit," PM Modi had said in his departure statement.
PM Modi is set to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at 11 am local time. Ahead of the visit, Mr Abbas was quoted as saying by news agency PTI, "We will discuss the recent updates with Prime Minister Modi, and the recent developments in the peace process, the bilateral relations, and the regional situations. And the possible role India can play in enhancing peace in the region, as well as discussing different economical aspects beyond the existing ties we already possess."
"The long Indian position of supporting the two-state solution is well known. India has supported the Palestinian cause throughout the years of conflict, and we rely on the Indian support in order to reach the independence of the Palestinian State," he mentioned.
PM Narendra Modi lays wreath at the mausoleum of late President Yasser Arafat in Ramallah.
PM Modi has reached Ramallah, news agency ANI reported.
PM Modi departed for Palestine from Amman, Jordan, as he visits Ramallah.
PM Modi arrives in Ramallah, Palestine, around 10 am local time (1:30 pm IST) where he will attend the wreath laying ceremony at the Mausoleum of Late President Yasser Arafat and Tour of the Yasser Arafat Museum.
To welcome PM Modi in the UAE, Burj Khalifa and Dubai Frames were lit in tricolour.
Palestinian President Welcomes PM Modi
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who met PM Modi in Delhi last year, has welcomed the Indian leader in what he has described as "a significant" visit by a "grand guest". He told news agency PTI that he would discuss the possible role India can play in enhancing peace in the region. "We believe in the importance of a possible Indian role... to reach a final agreement based on international consensus and resolutions, in which India and other countries can be part of," President Abbas said.
PM Modi's four-day nation visit comes six months after his visit to Israel. "This will be the first ever Prime Ministerial visit to Palestine from India," PM Modi said in a statement about the visit that New Delhi has described as "historic".