Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi on Thursday, July 11, after completing a two-nation tour of Russia and Austria. Prior to this, he spent two days in Moscow, meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Following his visits, PM Modi shared a post on X expressing his gratitude to Austria’s Chancellor, the government, and the people for their warm hospitality. He described his visit as both historic and immensely productive, highlighting the strengthened friendship between the two nations.
“My visit to Austria has been historic and immensely productive. New vigor has been added to the friendship between our nations. I am glad to have attended diverse programs while in Vienna. Gratitude to Chancellor @karlnehammer, the Austrian Government, and people for their hospitality and affection,” PM Modi said on X.
During a community event in Vienna on Wednesday, PM Modi noted the significance of his visit, marking 75 years of friendship between India and Austria. The enthusiastic crowd greeted him with chants of “Modi, Modi,” showcasing the strong connection between India and its diaspora. This visit was particularly notable as it was the first time in 41 years that an Indian Prime Minister had visited Austria.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer extended his appreciation for the successful state visit, acknowledging the dedication and hard work of numerous individuals and teams, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Army, the police, protocol officers, and many others behind the scenes. In a post on X, he expressed his gratitude for their professional planning, organization, and execution of the visit.
“Many thanks to the teams of @MFA_Austria, @bkagvat as well as the Federal Army, the police, the protocol, and the many helping hands in the background for the professional planning, the careful organization, and the perfect execution. Thank you!” Nehammer added.
During their meetings, PM Modi and Chancellor Nehammer appreciated the growing interest in cultural exchanges, such as yoga and Ayurveda, and emphasized the importance of skill development and the mobility of skilled personnel. They welcomed the operationalization of the bilateral Migration and Mobility Agreement, which provides an institutional framework to facilitate such exchanges while combating irregular migration, according to the PMO.
PM Modi also held significant meetings with Austrian leaders, including Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Nehammer, to bolster bilateral cooperation and explore new avenues for collaboration between India and Austria. He also interacted with business leaders from both countries, highlighting the mutual confidence in enhancing economic ties.
“Met business leaders from India and Austria. Our nations are confident of leveraging the many opportunities ahead to boost commercial and trade linkages,” he said, underscoring the potential for increased commercial and trade connections.
PM Modi arrived in Vienna on June 9 for a day-long state visit, further solidifying the strong and historic ties between India and Austria.