Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He went to BAPS Hindu temple and prayed. Jayashankar interacted with monks of Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) at the temple.
After visiting the BAPS temple, Jaishankar wrote in a post on X, I was blessed to visit the BAPS Hindu temple. The temple is a living symbol of India-UAE friendship and sends a positive message to the world. It is a true cultural bridge between the two countries.
The Swaminarayan Institute has built the temple on land donated by the UAE government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi on February 14 this year. The BAPS Hindu Temple situated in 27 acres of land near Al-Rahba is a wonderful example of craftsmanship. A large number of Indians live in the UAE.
During his visit, Jaishankar will hold bilateral talks with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. According to the report, during the meeting between Jaishankar and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, several issues related to India-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership as well as regional and global development are expected to be discussed. According to the report, the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza may also be discussed between Jaishankar and UAE leaders.
India-UAE relations have strengthened over the past few years. After Prime Minister Modi's historic visit to the UAE in August 2015, bilateral relations between the two countries evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership. Trade between the two countries is expected to be worth 100 billion dollars. UAE remains among the top four investors in India in terms of foreign direct investment in 2022-23.
Furthering economic engagement, the two countries signed the historic Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in February 2022. The aim of this trade agreement is to eliminate and reduce tariffs, promote an open trade environment and increase market access for service providers in various sectors.
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