Addis Ababa, Dec 17 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed a Joint Session of the Ethiopian Parliament, becoming the 18th Parliament worldwide where he has delivered an address.
Recalling the civilizational ties between India and Ethiopia, the Prime Minister said both countries combine ancient wisdom with modern ambition. In this context, he noted that India’s national song “Vande Mataram” and the Ethiopian national anthem both refer to their land as the mother.
Referring to the shared history of struggle, he highlighted the contribution of Indian soldiers who fought alongside Ethiopians for their liberation in 1941. He said it was an honour for him to pay tribute at the Adwa Victory Monument, which symbolizes the sacrifices of the Ethiopian people.
Describing Ethiopia as the “land of lions,” Prime Minister Modi said he felt at home in the country, drawing a parallel with his home state of Gujarat, which is also home to lions.
“It is a moment of great privilege for me to stand before you today. I feel honoured to be here in this temple of democracy, in the heart of a nation with ancient wisdom and modern aspirations,” he said.
The Prime Minister said he carried with him the greetings of 1.4 billion Indians and expressed deep respect for Ethiopia’s Parliament, its people and its democratic journey.
“In this great building, the will of the people becomes the will of the state. When the wheel of the state moves in harmony with the wheel of the people, the wheel of progress moves forward with hope and purpose,” he said.
He noted that it was a privilege to address the Parliament and, through this temple of democracy, to speak directly to the people of Ethiopia—farmers, entrepreneurs, women and young people shaping the country’s future.
He thanked the people and the Government of Ethiopia for conferring upon him the country’s highest honour, the Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia. Reflecting the importance of bilateral ties, he expressed satisfaction that the age-old relationship between the two countries had been elevated to a Strategic Partnership during the visit.
PM Modi said that the Global South was writing its own destiny.
Reaffirming India’s commitment to further strengthening the India–Ethiopia partnership, the Prime Minister recalled the contributions of Indian teachers and businesses to Ethiopia’s growth and prosperity.
He shared India’s development experience in areas such as digital public infrastructure, food processing and innovation, and conveyed India’s readiness to continue development cooperation in line with Ethiopia’s priorities. Reflecting India’s guiding principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”—the world is one family—he said it was a privilege for India to supply vaccines to Ethiopia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emphasizing that India and Ethiopia, as countries of the Global South, must stand together to amplify the voice of developing nations, the Prime Minister thanked Ethiopia for its solidarity in strengthening the global fight against terrorism.
Highlighting Addis Ababa’s pivotal role as the headquarters of the African union and as a symbol of African unity, Prime Minister Modi said India was honoured to welcome the African union as a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency. He noted that over the past 11 years, India–Africa engagement has expanded significantly, with more than 100 exchanges at the level of Heads of State and Government. He reiterated India’s deep commitment to Africa’s development and recalled his proposal at the Johannesburg G20 Summit to launch the Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative to train one million trainers across the continent.
UNI AAB