New Delhi: King of Jordan Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein has arrived in India for a three-day visit starting today. He will hold official talks with PM Narendra Modi on Thursday. According to officials, defence, security and investments are going to be the key areas of discussion on the bilateral agenda.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol yet again as he went to the airport to receive the King.
Modi welcomed King Abdullah with his trademark bear hug as he alighted from the aircraft.
Later, in a tweet, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar confirmed that PM Modi deviated from protocol to welcome His Majesty Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan at the airport.
“India attaches great importance to its ties with Jordan,” Kumar said.
President Ram Nath Kovind will host a banquet in honour of King Abdullah while Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will call on the visiting dignitary.
On Wednesday, the King will visit IIT Delhi to explore collaboration with Jordan technical institutes.
The King will also participate in a CEO Round-table followed by India-Jordan Business Forum jointly organized by Industry bodies FICCI, CII and Assocham.
India-Jordan trade stood at UD 1.35 billion in 2016-17, according to figures provided by the External Affairs Ministry. Both sides are expected to ink a number of agreements to expand cooperation in several key sectors including health care, IT, customs etc.
Jordan’s King will also deliver a special address on “Promoting Understanding and Moderation”, organized by the India Islamic Centre at Vigyan Bhawan on Thursday.
In the age of conventional and non-conventional security threats, rising radicalization is a matter of grave concern for Jordan and India. The two leaders will exchange views on how youth can be protected from radicalization and measures that states and societies can take to counter religious extremism.
Jordan is considered as among the safest of countries in the Middle East, even after the deteriorating situation of the region following the Arab spring in 2010s. Jordan prides itself on being an “oasis of stability” in a turbulent region.
Earlier this month, King Abdullah II hosted Modi at his residence in Amman. Jordan had facilitated Modi’s transit to Palestine and Jordan’s royal helicopters had flown Modi and his delegation from Amman to Ramallah and back during the visit.
