PM Modi arrives in Jordan on first leg of three-nation tour

February 09, 2018 19:10

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today arrived in Jordan on the first leg of his tour of three West Asian countries, including Palestine, during which he would hold talks on deepening cooperation in strategic areas such as security and trade.

"We arrived in Amman. I am very grateful to His Majesty King Abdullah II for facilitating flight and access," Modi tweeted after landing here.

The prime minister's visit will begin from Palestine from tomorrow after transiting through Jordan, where he will meet King Abdullah later in the day.

Describing the Gulf and West Asia region as a "key priority" in India's external engagement, Modi said his trip was aimed at strengthening ties with the region.

He said it would be his fifth visit to the Gulf and the West Asian region since 2015.

"This region is a key priority in our external engagement. We enjoy vibrant multi-dimensional ties with the countries here. I look forward to strengthening India's growing and important ties with West Asia and the Gulf region through the visit," Modi had said in his departure statement.

More than nine million Indians work and live in the Gulf region, of which about one third live in the UAE alone. In Oman, they constitute the largest expatriate community, he noted.

-- PTI

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