Prime Minister Modi meets Crown Prince of Kuwait, Prime Minister of Nepal, and President of Palestine.
The second day of his visit to the US saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi arriving in New York, where he held a series of productive bilateral meetings on Sunday (September 22, 2024). The meetings came on the eve of his participation in the highly-anticipated ‘UN Summit of the Future’.

While in New York, Prime Minister Modi met the Crown Prince of Kuwait, the Prime Minister of Nepal, and the President of Palestine. 

PM Modi’s First Meeting With Kuwait's Crown Prince
In a significant interaction, Prime Minister Modi met with Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UNGA in New York. This was the first meeting between the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince of Kuwait.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders expressed their firm commitment to deepen and diversify bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of both countries. They noted with satisfaction that the two countries were supporting each other with energy and food security requirements, the MEA added. 

During the course of the meeting, Prime Minister Modi conveyed that India attaches utmost importance to its bilateral relations with Kuwait. Both leaders recalled the strong historical ties and people-to-people linkages between the two countries. The Prime Minister also thanked the Crown Prince for ensuring the well-being of the Indian community in Kuwait, which is the largest diaspora group in the country.

“The meeting between the leadership of the two countries is expected to impart a fresh momentum to bilateral ties between India and Kuwait,” the MEA noted.

PM Modi Meets Nepal Prime Minister 
Prime Minister Modi also met Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and discussed the bilateral relationship, including the robust development partnership, between the two countries. 

The two leaders reviewed the unique and close bilateral relationship between India and Nepal, and expressed satisfaction at the progress made in diverse sectors including development partnership, hydropower cooperation, people-to-people ties, and enhancing connectivity – physical, digital and in the domain of energy, the MEA said after the meeting. 

The Indian Prime Minister used the opportunity to congratulate Nepal on becoming the 101st country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a full member, and underlined the importance of a regional response to the challenge of climate change.

“Nepal is a priority partner of India under its Neighbourhood First Policy. This meeting continues the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Nepal in furtherance of our Neighbourhood First policy,” MEA stated. 

Prime Minister Modi Meets President of Palestine
Another important meeting held by Prime Minister Modi on the sidelines of the Summit of the Future in New York was the one with Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas. During their talks, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen India-Palestine bilateral relations, the MEA said. 

Expressing deep concern at the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and the deteriorating security situation in the region, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s unwavering support to the people of Palestine, including continued humanitarian assistance. He reiterated India's time-tested principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue, and called for ceasefire, release of hostages and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy, the MEA said.

According to the MEA, the Prime Minister stressed that only a two State solution will deliver enduring peace and stability in the region. Recalling that India was one of the first countries to recognize Palestine, he conveyed India’s continued support to Palestine membership of the UN.

The two leaders held constructive discussion on various facets of India-Palestine bilateral relations, including India’s support to Palestine at the United Nations and ongoing assistance and support to Palestine in the field of education, health, and other capacity building efforts.