Excellency, My Brother, My Friend,

It truly gives me great joy to visit Ethiopia. This is my first visit to Ethiopia. Yet, the moment I set foot here, I felt a deep sense of belonging and warmth. India and Ethiopia have shared continuous contact, dialogue, and exchanges for thousands of years. Enriched by many languages and traditions, our two nations stand as symbols of unity in diversity. Both countries are democratic forces committed to peace and the welfare of humanity. We are fellow travelers and partners in the Global South. On international platforms too, we have stood shoulder to shoulder.

The presence of the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia makes this country the meeting point of African diplomacy. Inspired by our shared vision of an inclusive world, India ensured in 2023 that the African Union became a member of the G20. Keeping all these aspects in mind, today we are elevating India–Ethiopia relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership. This step will provide new energy, new momentum, and new depth to our ties.

A clear roadmap will be prepared to realize the immense possibilities of the future. Today, we had the opportunity to deliberate on key dimensions of our cooperation such as economy, innovation, technology, defense, health, capacity building, and multilateral cooperation. I am pleased that today we have decided to double the student scholarships for Ethiopia in India.

Excellency,

I sincerely thank you for your condolences on the Pahalgam terrorist attack and for your support in our fight against terrorism. The solidarity of friendly nations in this struggle against terrorism carries immense meaning. Once again, I express my heartfelt gratitude to you for the grand welcome extended to me, my delegation, and myself.

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MJPS/VJ