Amman, Dec 16 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wrapped up his significant two-day journey to Jordan and has now departed for Ethiopia for a state visit. In a notable gesture, Jordan's Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II personally saw PM Modi off at the airport after his engagements in Amman.

Earlier that day, the Crown Prince drove PM Modi to the Jordan Museum, where Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, the Vice-Chair, guided them through a special tour of the establishment.

The Crown Prince is a direct descendant of Prophet Mohammad, representing the 42nd generation.

During his visit, PM Modi addressed the India-Jordan Business Forum, emphasizing opportunities for enhancing trade, business, and investment between the two nations. The event was also attended by King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Al-Hussein.

Reflecting on their shared civilizational ties, PM Modi and H.R.H. Crown Prince Al-Hussein visited the museum, as highlighted by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson on X.

On Monday, PM Modi met with King Abdullah II at Al Husseiniya Palace and proposed increasing bilateral trade to USD 5 billion.

He also advocated for collaboration between Jordan's digital payment system and India's United Payments Interface (UPI).

During the visit, both nations finalized several Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) covering culture, renewable energy, water management, digital public infrastructure, and a twinning arrangement between Petra and Ellora.

After his Jordan visit, PM Modi headed to Ethiopia at the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, marking his inaugural visit to the country and highlighting the increasing strategic importance of India–Ethiopia relations.

In Ethiopia, he will engage in extensive discussions with PM Abiy Ahmed Ali, addressing political engagement, development cooperation, trade, investment, and people-to-people relations. As partners in the Global South, both leaders are expected to reinforce their commitment to enhancing friendship and mutual cooperation.

In anticipation of the visit, Addis Ababa has been adorned with welcome banners, posters, and Indian flags, indicating the warm reception for the Indian Prime Minister. This marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ethiopia since 2011.

In his departure statement, PM Modi emphasized the importance of Addis Ababa as the headquarters of the African Union, recalling that during India's G20 Presidency in 2023, the African Union was granted permanent membership in the G20. He expressed eagerness for detailed discussions with PM Abiy Ahmed, connecting with the Indian diaspora, and addressing a Joint Session of the Ethiopian Parliament.

“I am looking forward to discussing India’s journey as the ‘Mother of Democracy’ and the potential of the India–Ethiopia partnership for the Global South,” he stated.