‘We Love Modi’: PM Receives Warm Welcome From Indian Diaspora, Indonesian Community In Jakarta

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome in Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday from both, the Indian diaspora and the Indonesian community. The prime minister is in the country to attend the 20th Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN-India Summit and 18th East Asia Summit. Just before heading to the summit, the prime minister was welcomed by the Indian diaspora at the hotel. PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome at the Jakarta International Airport with traditional Indonesian dance.

According to a video posted by news agency ANI, Modi met the diaspora members who received the Prime Minister with flowers and Indian flags. The PM was also seen briefly interacting with several people of the Indian diaspora in Jakarta. Diaspora members also clicked selfies with Modi.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi met members of the Indian Diaspora, before attending the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and 18th East Asia Summit, earlier today. pic.twitter.com/jzw0jG0cWl

— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2023

The Indian diaspora welcome PM Modi with a cultural programme and one of the members said that it was thrilling experience to meet the prime minister in person. 

“Today, my team had the chance to perform the opening dance for welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was a great experience for us. It is really nice to see him. It was a thrilling experience for all of us.”

#WATCH | Today, my team had the chance to perform the opening dance for welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was a great experience for us. It is really nice to see him. It was a thrilling experience for all of us…” said members of the India diaspora who welcomed PM Modi… pic.twitter.com/INbfzRlyhL

— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2023

Meanwhile, the Indonesian community who were at the hotel held flags and placards as they chanted “We love Modi”. A woman from the group of Indonesia women, she said that they love India and that they were excited to meet PM Modi and welcome him. 

#WATCH | Members of the Indonesian community welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrived at a hotel in Jakarta, earlier today.

“We are here from the Indonesian Community that loves India. We are excited to meet PM Modi and to welcome him to Indonesia,” said members of… pic.twitter.com/MTuZMrKzsU

— ANI (@ANI) September 7, 2023

Upon reaching Jakarta, Modi tweeted in Indonesian, “Landed in Jakarta. Looking forward to ASEAN related meetings and working with various leaders for a better planet.”

The ASEAN-India Summit is the first summit since the elevation of the ties between India and the ASEAN bloc of countries to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2022. After the ASEAN-India Summit Prime Minister Modi will attend the 18th East Asia Summit (EAS).

Modi, during the summits, will discuss the future contours of India’s partnership with the countries in the strategically important region. Ahead of his departure from New Delhi, Modi said that the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and the ASEAN has injected new dynamism into the group’s ties with New Delhi.

The Prime Minister is visiting Jakarta at the invitation of the Indonesian President, Joko Widodo. Modi will be returning to New Delhi late in the evening on Thursday. Indonesia, the current chair of Asean summit, made several adjustments to the schedule for both its summits to facilitate Modi’s early return.