Upon landing at Port Moresby airport for the Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was welcomed through a huge gun salute and traditional dancers there. Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape greeted PM Modi, by touching his feet and seeking his blessings.
PM Modi visited Papua New Guinea for meetings with the leaders of Pacific islands, in order to countertop the growing footprint of China in the region. He reached there after visiting the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Tokyo, Japan.
When PM Modi arrived at the airport in Papua New Guinea, the national anthem of India was played and everyone present there stood in attention, in respect. He was also bestowed a guard of honor on his arrival.
Modi landed at 10 pm according the time in the capital Port Moresby. There he has to co-host the Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation with PM James Marape and other leaders of Pacific islands, according to the schedule. This is Narendra Modi’s first tour to Papua New Guinea, in addition to the first-ever visit by any Indian Prime Minister to the Indo-Pacific country.
The meeting is most probably held to focus mostly on the climate change and development of both countries. This is so because Beijing is discharging vast sums into the Pacific recently which has daunted the officials of New Delhi because the region is considered to be our country’s backyard.
The Forum for India-Pacific Islands Corporation Summit (FIPIC), launched during PM Modi’s visit to Fiji in 2014 to enhance India’s engagement in the region, will see the participation from 14 countries’ leaders to solve this issue.
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