Abu Dhabi: India on Sunday announced His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, will be the chief guest on Indian Republic Day on January 26, 2017.
“I am pleased to join in your Republic Day celebrations, wishing your friendly country more progress & prosperity,” Shaikh Mohammad tweeted addressing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday evening.
He thanked India for the invitation and said: “Our strong relations are deeply rooted in history; our strategic cooperation has increased, driven by our mutual aspirations to develop it.”
India’s External Affairs Ministry also tweeted a message welcoming Shaikh Mohammad as "a dear friend of India”.
We hope 2 welcome a dear friend of India, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, as Republic Day 2017 Chief Guest pic.twitter.com/aC5EkjFiCg
Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) October 2, 2016
On the Republic Day, when Indian Constitution came into force, prominent world leaders have been the chief guests.
The list includes French President Francois Hollande (2016), US President Barack Obama (2015), Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2014), French President Nicolas Sarkozy (2008) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (2007). After late Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2006, Shaikh Mohammad will be the most prominent Arab leader in recent years to be invited as the chief guest.
Shaikh Mohammad’s first state visit to India in February this year, on the invitation of Modi, elevated the friendly relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
His visit to Mumbai stock exchange symbolised growing economic relations and the UAE’s investments in India increased to nearly $1 billion (Dh3.67 billion) over the past year.
The two countries set up the UAE-India Infrastructure Investment Fund with a target of $75 billion (Dh275 billion) when Prime Minister Modi visited the UAE in August last year.
Shaikh Mohammad’s visit on the Republic Day is a testimony to the vibrancy of bilateral relations and it will help to further strengthen this multifaceted partnership, Neeta Bhushan, Charge d’ Affaires at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, told Gulf News.
The Indian community here in UAE is very happy to hear this news and is extremely enthusiastic about the visit, she added.
