Warsaw: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held "constructive discussions" with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, and the two leaders agreed to strengthen and elevate their ties to a strategic partnership as they exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual concern.
"I want to thank PM Tusk for giving me a warm welcome in the beautiful city of Warsaw. You have been a friend of India for a long time and you have a huge contribution to enhancing the relationship between India and Poland...
"I want to thank the government and the people of Poland. The people of India can never forget the help you had extended in rescuing Indian students during the Ukraine conflict," he said during a press meeting after the talks. PM Modi also announced that India and Poland have decided to elevate their ties to a strategic partnership and said he and Tusk have agreed on several issues to give a new direction to India-Poland relations.
"This year, we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. On this occasion, we have decided to convert the relationship into a strategic partnership," PM Modi said.
He added: "Relations between India and Poland are based on shared values like democracy and rule of law. Today, we have identified several initiatives to give a new direction to the relations. As two democratic countries, the exchange of views between our parliaments should be encouraged. Work will be done to connect the private sector to broaden economic cooperation".
Meanwhile, PM Tusk thanked his Indian counterpart for visiting the Central European country and said relations with India are crucial for Poland. "Undoubtedly, it is evidence that the relations between our two countries are getting even better. This is essential for the entire region... There is no dispute, no struggle between our countries. We understand each other well, despite our geographical differences, different traditions and histories".
Modi is the first Prime Minister of India to visit Poland in 45 years. After the two-day visit to Poland, Modi would go to Kyiv in a 10-hour ride on the first-ever visit to Ukraine by any Indian premier. The visit to the European nations comes at a time when the Ukraine conflict is at a critical point with both Kyiv and Moscow cutting deeper into each other’s territories.
PM Modi pays homage at 3 memorials in WarsawPrime Minister Narendra Modi said humanity and compassion are vital foundations of a “just and peaceful world” as he paid homage at three memorials, including the monument of the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar. Known here as ‘Good Maharaja’, Jam Saheb of Nawanagar provided refuge to over 1,000 Polish children who escaped the Soviet Union. PM Modi also paid his tributes at the memorials for the Valivade-Kolhapur camp and the Monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino in Warsaw. |
