India-Ethiopia Friendship Rooted in History and Shared Destiny: PM Modi

• PM Modi addresses Joint Session of Ethiopian Parliament, a special honour
• India–Ethiopia ties elevated to strategic partnership during the visit
• PM recalls shared civilisational bonds and joint freedom struggle
• Emphasis on Global South unity, Africa’s development and anti-terror fight

GG News Bureau
Addis Ababa, 17th Dec: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed a Joint Session of the Ethiopian Parliament, a rare and special honour accorded to him during his first bilateral visit to Ethiopia.

Beginning his address, the Prime Minister conveyed greetings of friendship and goodwill from the people of India to Ethiopian lawmakers. Calling the Parliament a “temple of democracy,” he said it was a privilege to speak through it to the farmers, entrepreneurs, women and youth who are shaping Ethiopia’s future. He thanked the people and government of Ethiopia for conferring upon him the country’s highest civilian award, the Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia.

Highlighting the deep-rooted civilisational ties between the two nations, the Prime Minister said India and Ethiopia combine ancient wisdom with modern ambition. He noted that both India’s national song Vande Mataram and Ethiopia’s national anthem refer to the land as a mother, reflecting shared cultural values. Recalling the joint struggle against colonialism, he paid tribute to Indian soldiers who fought alongside Ethiopians during their liberation in 1941 and honoured the sacrifices symbolised by the Adwa Victory Monument.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that the age-old relationship between India and Ethiopia has now been elevated to a strategic partnership. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening cooperation, recalling the contributions of Indian teachers and businesses to Ethiopia’s growth. He shared India’s development experiences in digital public infrastructure, food processing and innovation, and reiterated India’s readiness to support Ethiopia’s development priorities.

Emphasising India’s philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family—PM Modi said it was a privilege for India to supply vaccines to Ethiopia during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also stressed that as nations of the Global South, India and Ethiopia must stand together to amplify the voice of developing countries, while thanking Ethiopia for its solidarity in the global fight against terrorism.

Highlighting Addis Ababa’s role as the headquarters of the African Union, the Prime Minister said India was honoured to welcome the AU as a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency. He noted that over the past 11 years, India–Africa engagement has expanded substantially, with more than 100 high-level visits exchanged. Reiterating India’s commitment to Africa’s development, he recalled his proposal at the Johannesburg G20 Summit to launch the Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative to train one million trainers across the continent.

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister thanked the Speaker for the opportunity to share India’s journey with a fellow democracy, stating that the Global South is now writing its own destiny.