Vienna: Emphasizing India’s longstanding commitment to global peace and prosperity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian diaspora in Vienna, stating that India has given ‘Buddha‘ to the world, not ‘Yudh‘ (war).
PM Modi highlighted India’s aspirations for global leadership in the 21st century, asserting that the country is working towards being the “best, the brightest, achieving the biggest, and reaching the highest milestones.”
“For thousands of years, we have been sharing our knowledge and expertise. We didn’t give ‘Yudh’ (war), we gave the world ‘Buddha’. India always gave peace and prosperity, and therefore India is going to strengthen its role in the 21st century,” PM Modi said in Vienna on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during his two-nation tour to Australia and Russia. In Moscow, he emphasized the importance of finding a peaceful solution to the Ukraine war during talks with President Vladimir Putin.
Austria is known for its vibrant musical culture. I got a glimpse of it thanks to this amazing rendition of Vande Mataram! pic.twitter.com/XMjmQhA06R
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 10, 2024
PM Modi’s visit to Austria was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 41 years. He described the visit as “meaningful,” saying, “This long wait has come to an end on a historic occasion. India and Austria are celebrating 75 years of their friendship.”
“India and Austria are geographically on two different ends, but we have many similarities. Democracy connects both countries. Our shared values are liberty, equality, pluralism, and respect for the rule of law. Our societies are multicultural and multilingual. Both countries celebrate diversity, and a big medium to reflect these values are elections,” the Prime Minister remarked.
In his discussions with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Karl Nehammer, PM Modi explored ways to expand bilateral cooperation in several sectors, including the environment and combating climate change. He also discussed ongoing global disputes, including the Ukraine conflict and the situation in West Asia, with the two leaders.
In Moscow, discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin focused on trade, defense, and strategic cooperation. PM Modi reiterated to President Putin that waging war is not the solution to longstanding issues.
The Prime Minister returned to New Delhi on Thursday morning after the tour to Russia and Austria.