Modi hails resilience, spirit of people of Belgium.
Modi hails resilience, spirit of people of Belgium.
Ahead of his participation at the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on Thursday and Friday in Washington, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the “summit will deliberate on the crucial issue of threat to nuclear security caused by nuclear terrorism” and that “leaders will discuss ways and measures through which to strengthen the global nuclear security architecture, especially to ensure that non-state actors do not get access to nuclear material”. But the Prime Minister will first visit Belgium for a day-long visit on Wednesday to attend the India-EU summit, even as he “saluted the resilience and spirit of the people of Belgium” and declared that India stood “shoulder to shoulder with them in the wake of the horrific attacks in Brussels and shares the grief of those who lost their loved ones”.
On his forthcoming visit to oil-rich Saudi Arabia, Mr Modi hailed the ties between the two nations as “special”, adding that India wants “prominent Saudi businesses to partner with India’s development priorities”.
Ahead of his departure from New Delhi in the early hours of Wednesday on his three-nation visit, the Prime Minister said, “On March 30, I will be in Brussels to meet with the Belgian Prime Minister, Mr Charles Michel. I would also be holding the 13th India-EU Summit with the EU leadership. No words are enough to salute the resilience and spirit of the people of Belgium. We stand shoulder to shoulder with them in the wake of the horrific attacks in Brussels and share the grief of those who lost their loved ones. Our relations with Belgium are deep-rooted and have stood the test of time. Within the EU, Belgium is India’s second largest trading partner. My meeting with the Prime Minister aims to expand trade, investment and high technology partnership with this important EU member. Along with Prime Minister Charles Michel, I would remote activate the India-Belgium ARIES (Aryabhatta Research Institute for Observational Sciences) telescope.
The European Union is a vital trading partner and the biggest export destination for India. This summit will advance our multifaceted engagement across a whole range of domains. In Brussels, I would also be meeting with the members of European Parliament (MEPs), Indologists, Belgian CEOs as well as a wide cross-section of the Indian Diaspora in Belgium. I would also interact with the board members of the Association of Diamond Traders in Belgium. The same evening, I will address a community programme and interact with the Indian community.”
On his engagements in the US, the Prime Minister said, “After Belgium, I will be in Washington D.C. on March 31 to participate in the fourth Nuclear Security Summit, where several nations and global organisations will be represented. The summit will deliberate on the crucial issue of threat to nuclear security caused by nuclear terrorism. Leaders will discuss ways and measure through which to strengthen the global nuclear security architecture, especially to ensure that non-state actors do not get access to nuclear material...”
