PM Modi attends opening ceremony of Arabian Gulf Cup, meets Kuwait Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Sabah

PM Modi with Kuwait Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Sabah.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Kuwait, attended the opening ceremony of 26th Arabian Gulf Cup on Saturday. PM's visit to Kuwait is the first by an Indian PM in 43 years after Indira Gandhi in 1981.

During the opening ceremony, the PM met Kuwait's Emir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, as both leaders witnessed the biennial football tournament. PM Modi, who is in Kuwait for a two-day visit, was the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony.

The prime minister joined the Emir, the Crown Prince, and the Prime Minister of Kuwait in witnessing the grand opening ceremony. The event also provided an opportunity for an informal interaction of the prime minister with the leadership of Kuwait, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release.

On Saturday, the PM also addressed a large gathering of the Indian community at an event called ‘Hala Modi’ at the Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Indoor Sports Complex in the city on the first day of his two-day visit.

Upon his arrival, the Prime Minister met with a 101-year-old former Indian Foreign Service officer, two Kuwaiti nationals who have translated and published iconic epics Ramayana and Mahabharata in Arabic, and visited a labour camp with a workforce of around 1,500 Indian nationals.

Ahead of his visit, the prime minister said India and Kuwait have shared interests in peace, security, and stability in West Asia.

"We deeply value the historical connection with Kuwait which has been nurtured over generations. We are not just strong trade and energy partners and have shared interest in peace, security, stability and prosperity in the West Asia region," he said.

In a departure statement, PM Modi said his talks with the top Kuwaiti leadership would be an opportunity to chalk out a future partnership between India and Kuwait.