Headlines
Modi against outside interference in Middle East
New Delhi, Aug 16
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
has called for a "comprehensive strategic partnership" with the UAE and
warned against "outside interference" in the Middle East.
Ahead
of his two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates starting on Sunday,
Modi also described the UAE as a "Mini India" and vowed to build a
"regular and effective cooperation in ... security challenges".
In
an interview to the Khaleej Times, the Indian leader said that the Gulf
region was "vital for India's economic, energy and security interests.
"I
have begun my regional engagement with the UAE. This tells you the
importance I attach to the UAE. We have resolved to sustain regular high
level engagements and build a strong and comprehensive strategic
partnership."
Without naming any specific country or countries,
he said India was "saddened and worried to see violence and instability
in the region.
"I have always believed that regional or bilateral
problems are best solved by the countries involved. We have often seen
the consequences of outside interference."
Modi, who will be the
first Indian prime minister to visit the UAE in 34 years, lavished
praise on the progress made by a country which is home to a large number
of Indian expatriates.
"I have been hearing about the progress
made by Dubai for years... This would be my first visit to the country. I
always thought how this paradise could come up in a desert? What
vision! What remarkable skill!"
The prime minister said the 2.6 million Indians who live and work in the UAE had made that Gulf country a "Mini India".
"The
Indian community has been embraced with such warmth in the UAE. The way
the two communities work together represents a special bond.
"They have set an example for how an expatriate community can become a part of their resident country's development journey."
Saying
India has emerged as one of the major global powers, Modi said that
India and the UAE have everything to be a top priority for each other.
"The Gulf region is vital for India's economic, energy and security interests...
"I
would like to see a truly comprehensive strategic partnership evolve
between our two countries. I want to see the UAE as our foremost trade
and investment partner...
"We would build regular and effective
cooperation in a full range of security challenges. Our armed forces
would engage with each other more."