Warsaw: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who became the first Indian leader to visit Poland in 45 years, received a warm and cheerful welcome from the Indian diaspora on Wednesday, who had been waiting for his arrival in earnest, when his two-day state visit was announced. His welcome was marked by cheers from an enthusiastic crowd waving Indian flags at the Raffles Europejski Warsaw Hotel in Warsaw, followed by a Gujarati traditional dance performance.
An eager crowd was seen at the hotel even before PM Modi arrived for his two-day state visit to Poland, and gave him a rousing welcome as the PM arrived amid tight security. Taking to X, he said he was "deeply touched by the warm welcome from the Indian community in Poland! Their energy embodies the strong ties that bind our nations."
PM Modi also witnessed the cultural performances with great interest and posed with classical dancers for a photograph at the venue. "Our group started two years back, it gives us a lot of happiness, especially in such moments as today. We are very much honoured and happy to present it in front of him. We welcome him in Poland," said one of the Polish artistes performing for PM Modi.
The Prime Minister also interacted with Polish children as he arrived at the hotel and greeted members of the Indian diaspora. He will later first lay a wreath at the memorial of the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar and visit the monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino.
PM Modi on Wednesday arrived in Poland, becoming the first Indian leader to visit the Central European country in 45 years. His highly-anticipated visit to Warsaw, comes as India and Poland are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. "Landed in Poland. Looking forward to the various programmes here. This visit will add momentum to the India-Poland friendship and benefit the people of our nations," he said on X.
The Indian leader is slated to hold talks with the Polish leadership, including President Andrzej Sebastian Duda and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, and engage with the Indian community there. He will also hold talks with business leaders from Poland to strengthen India-Poland business relations and meet Indologists and some kabaddi players to see what is there that attracts India and Poland at the people-to-people level together, according to Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
Shortly before emplaning to Poland on Thursday, the Prime Minister said he looked forward to the opportunity to meeting the Polish leadership to advance India's partnership with Warsaw, as well as strengthen bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on a peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
"My visit to Poland comes as we mark 70 years of our diplomatic relations. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe. Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership. I will also engage with the members of the vibrant Indian community in Poland," he said in a statement.
After concluding his Poland trip, PM Modi will visit Ukraine on an invitation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which comes after his highly-publicised trip to Russia on June 8-9 amid the raging war between Moscow and Kyiv. Modi would become the first Indian leader ever to visit Ukraine after diplomatic relations were established in 1992.
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