Modi will attend the Nuclear Security Summit in the US on March 31st.
By Dileep Thekkethil
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Brussels to attend the long postponed India-EU summit which will be held Wednesday.
The visit of Modi comes just days after the Belgian capital came under the attack of terrorists killing 35 people including an Indian software engineer Raghavendran Ganesan and injuring over 200.
The Prime Minister’s Office tweeted: “Early morning arrival for PM @narendramodi in Brussels. A series of meetings & interactions lined up for the day.”
Modi will be attending the India-EU summit in the first leg of his tri-nation visit after which on 31st he will leave for the US to attend the Nuclear Security Summit, which will be also attended by his Pakistani counterpart Navaz Sharif.
During his one-day visit to Belgium, Modi will hold bilateral talks with his Belgian Counterpart Prime Minister Charles Michels and later attend the 13th India-EU summit.
“A red carpet at dawn. PM @narendramodi receives a warm welcome as he arrives in Brussels,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
The External affairs ministry had earlier confirmed that the terror attack that struck Brussels Airport and Metro station will be one of the key discussion points during both the meetings.
Modi before leaving to Belgium said “No words are enough to salute the resilience and spirit of the people of Belgium. We stand shoulder to shoulder with them in the wake of the horrific attacks in Brussels and share the grief of those who lost their loved ones.”
Soon after landing in Belgium, Modi paid tribute to the people who lost the life at the Brussels metro station where an Indian software engineer was among 13 killed in a terror attack.
After his scheduled meetings with Hindu forum of Europe and Hindu Forum of Belgium, Modi will address the Indian community in Belgium later on Wednesday.
After address the community, Modi will leave for Washington for the two-day Nuclear Security Summit hosted by US President Barak Obama.
Ahead of the Indian Prime Minister’s third official visit to the US, the authorities have said: “We are looking at this opportunity as a chance to highlight steps that India has taken in its own nuclear security to go beyond, perhaps, some of the activities that it has done before.”
There are speculations that PM Modi will conduct a discussion with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is also attending the nuclear summit in the US.
Modi had earlier condemned the terrorist attack that killed over 60 people in Lahore on the eve of Easter and extended condolences to Sharif. In the meanwhile, a team of Pakistan Intelligence agents has reached Pathankot to collect evidence on the terror attack that happened inside the base.
As of now, the external affairs ministry has remained tight-lipped about any possibility of the two leaders meeting in the US.
On his way back to India, Modi will touch down at Riyadh on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, which is one of the biggest strategic partners of India in the middle east.
Modi will return to India after the foreign tour concludes on April 2.
Social Media Update
Early morning arrival for PM @narendramodi in Brussels. A series of meetings & interactions lined up for the day. pic.twitter.com/JLBuypazml
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 30, 2016
At Maalbek Metro Station, PM @narendramodi remembers India's Raghavendran Ganeshan & other victims of tragic attack pic.twitter.com/Ph0Pr99DhV
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 30, 2016
PM @narendramodi: The scourge of terrorism increasing, imp for all nations to fight this menace. India has been battling it for 40 years.
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 30, 2016