Upon his arrival in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday following his trip to Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted with a rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’. In shared video, PM Modi was seen standing as artists in Vienna performed the patriotic song, accompanied by violinists and guided by the concertmaster.
PM Modi landed in Austria on Tuesday local time and received a warm welcome from Indian Ambassador to Austria Shambhu Kumaran and Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. Later, he attended a dinner hosted by Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, where members of the Indian diaspora welcomed him.
In response, PM Modi expressed gratitude to Chancellor Karl Nehammer for the warm welcome and mentioned that he looked forward to their discussions the following day. He emphasized that their nations would continue collaborating to advance global welfare.
Thank you, Chancellor @karlnehammer, for the warm welcome. I look forward to our discussions tomorrow as well. Our nations will continue working together to further global good. 🇮🇳 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/QHDvxPt5pv
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2024
Chancellor Nehammer expressed his pleasure in welcoming PM Modi to Austria, emphasizing the friendship and partnership between Austria and India. PM Modi thanked Chancellor Nehammer for the warm reception and affirmed the commitment of India and Austria to continue working together towards global progress.
This visit marks the first time in 41 years that an Indian Prime Minister has visited Austria, following former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s visit in 1983.
During his visit, PM Modi concluded a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he raised concerns about Indian nationals serving in the Russian army. The Russian government has assured prompt action for their release from military service. PM Modi and Putin have held 16 meetings over the past decade, with their latest meeting occurring during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in 2022.
Reflecting on his discussions with Putin, PM Modi reiterated the importance of peace for future generations but emphasized that lasting solutions cannot be achieved through conflict. He stressed the necessity of pursuing peace through dialogue rather than warfare.
This visit to Austria comes amidst ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, marking PM Modi’s first visit to Russia since the conflict began in 2022.
