By Smritika Banerjee
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with “The Great Honour of Nishan Of Ethiopia” on Tuesday, in a landmark moment for India-Africa diplomacy. This made him the first ever world leader to receive the nation’s highest civilian distinction. In recognition of Modi’s pivotal role in strengthening the bilateral partnership between two of the world’s oldest civilisations, the award was given.
This ceremony occurred during PM Modi’s official visit to Ethiopia, where he was received with a very high protocol level. Abiy Ahmed Ali, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, met PM Modi at the airport. Following which, a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony was hosted by him to show the deep cultural bonds between the two countries.
“The honour belongs to the 140 crore people of India. It is a testament to the enduring friendship between our two great nations,” the Prime Minister shared in a statement.
Global South Leadership and Strategic Collaboration: PM Modi’s visit yielded several diplomatic outcomes along with the ceremonial honours:
Strategic Partnership: Both of the countries formally upgraded their ties to a Strategic Partnership
New Agreements: Three Memoranda of Understanding pertaining to customs cooperation, UN peacekeeping training, and the creation of a new data centre for Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs were linked.
Economic Support: India reaffirmed its position as a dependable partner in African development by signing an agreement for Ethiopia’s debt restructuring within the G20 Common Framework.
PM Modi’s visit to Addis Ababa, the headquarters of the African Union, solidifies India’s position even more as a champion for African interests on the global platform, after India’s successful push for the AU’s permanent membership in the G20 a year ago.