Describing India and Ethiopia as a confluence of ancient knowledge and modern aspirations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the two countries must work together to raise the voice of developing countries at the global level.
Mr. Modi addressed a joint session of the Ethiopian Parliament on the last day of his two-day visit to Ethiopia on Wednesday. Describing the opportunity to address the Parliament as an honor, Mr. Modi, who is on his first bilateral visit to Ethiopia, said, "Through this temple of democracy, I am interacting with the common citizens of Ethiopia, farmers, industrialists, proud women, and youth who are shaping the country's future."
The Prime Minister thanked the people and government of Ethiopia for conferring upon him the highest honor of Ethiopia, the Grand Collar of the State of Ethiopia.
Referring to the importance of the relationship between the two countries, the Prime Minister expressed deep satisfaction that during this visit, the ancient relationship between the two countries has been elevated to a strategic partnership.
Recalling the cultural ties between India and Ethiopia, Mr. Modi said that the two countries are a confluence of ancient wisdom and modern aspirations. In this context, he noted that India's national anthem "Vande Mataram" and Ethiopia's national anthem both address their land as mother.
Referring to the shared struggle of the two countries, the Prime Minister emphasized the cooperation of Indian soldiers who fought shoulder to shoulder with Ethiopian citizens for Ethiopia's independence in 1941. He said it was an honor for him to pay tribute to the Victory Monument, a symbol of the sacrifices of the people of Ethiopia.
The Prime Minister expressed India's commitment to further strengthening and expanding the India-Ethiopia partnership. He recalled the contribution of Indian teachers and Indian business institutions to Ethiopia's development and prosperity.
He shared India's development experiences, including digital public infrastructure, food processing, and innovations, and expressed India's readiness to continue development cooperation in line with Ethiopia's priorities.
Highlighting India's commitment to serving humanity, which is rooted in the principle of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family), he said that providing vaccines to Ethiopia during the COVID-19 pandemic was a matter of pride for India.
The Prime Minister emphasized that as countries of the "Global South", India and Ethiopia must stand together to strengthen the voice of developing countries. He thanked Ethiopia for its solidarity in strengthening the fight against global terrorism.
Referring to the important role of Addis Ababa as the headquarters of the African Union, he said that this would give shape to the dream of African unity. The Prime Minister said it was an honor for India to welcome the African Union as a permanent member during its G20 presidency.
He noted that during his government's 11 years, the relationship between India and Africa has increased manifold, and there have been over 100 visits at the level of heads of state and government between the two sides. He highlighted India's deep commitment to Africa's development and reiterated his proposal to launch the "Africa Skills Multi-Donor Initiative" at the Johannesburg G20 Summit, which will train 1 million trainers across the continent.