PM Modi delivers keynote address in UAE

Dubai [UAE]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a keynote address at the inauguration of the World Government Summit here on Sunday.

Prior to the address, a Bharatnatyam performance was held.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi his Kyrgyz counterpart Sapar Isakov. He also held a meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) business leaders. He also called on the Vice President, Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

While addressing the Indian community at the Dubai Opera House earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi thanked the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for allowing India to construct the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Temple.

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the BAPS Temple project via video conferencing.

The sprawling temple, spread over an area of 55,000 square meters will be located off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway at Al-Rahaba, the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Navdeep Singh Suri told ANI.

The Prime Minister also paid tribute to the Emirati soldiers at Wahat Al Karama memorial in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. He was accompanied by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and other officials.

On Saturday evening, Prime Minister Modi arrived in the UAE after completing a successful historic visit in Palestine.

India and the UAE on Saturday signed five Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi. Also, the Crown Prince hosted Prime Minister Modi for a dinner meeting at the palace.

Foreign Secretary Vijay K. Gokhale said that the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi had described Prime Minister Modi as a friend.

After the events, the Prime Minister will leave for Oman, which is his last-leg of the four-nation Middle East tour and will return back to New Delhi on Monday.