PM Modi with Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.
Credit: X/@narendramodi
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made a special gesture to the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, by receiving him at the tarmac of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi as the ruler of the West Asian nation arrived for a two-day tour to India.
“Went to the airport to welcome my brother, Amir of Qatar H.H. Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Wishing him a fruitful stay in India and looking forward to our meeting tomorrow,” Modi posted on X, along with pictures of him hugging Sheikh Tamim.
Modi earlier made the special gesture only on rare occasions to receive leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping at the airport in Ahmedabad, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, then United States President Barack Obama and then United Arab Emirate President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the airport in Delhi.
The Amir of Qatar is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials and a business delegation.
This is his second visit to New Delhi. He had earlier visited India on a state visit in March 2015.
He will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan on February 18.
During his visit, the ruler of Qatar will hold discussions with President Droupadi Murmu, who will also host a banquet in his honour. He will hold talks with Modi covering various aspects of the bilateral relations.
India and Qatar have deep-rooted historical ties of friendship, trust and mutual respect. In recent years, the ties between the two countries including in the areas of trade, investment, energy, technology, culture and people-to-people ties have continued to strengthen, the Ministry of External Affairs stated.
The Indian community residing in Qatar forms the largest expatriate community in Qatar and is appreciated for its positive contribution to the progress and development of Qatar. “The visit of His Highness the Amir will provide further momentum to our growing multifaceted partnership,” a spokesperson of the MEA stated.