Fiji, Papua New Guinea confer highest honours on Modi in rare gesture
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New Delhi: Indo-Pacific nations Fiji and Papua New Guinea have honoured visiting Prime Minister Modi with their nation’s highest civilian awards on Monday.
The third India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit is underway in Papua New Guinea with PM Modi discussing cooperation in various areas of development.
Upon his arrival on late Sunday evening, Papua New Guinea accorded PM Modi a ceremonial welcome which the nation never does after sunset to any guest.
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka conferred PM Modi with the ‘The Companion of the Order of Fiji’ for Modi’s ‘global leadership’.
‘Big Honour for India. Prime Minister Modi has been conferred the highest honour of Fiji by the PM of Fiji: Companion of the Order of Fiji in recognition of his global leadership. Only a handful of Non-Fijians have received this honour to date,’ the Prime Minister's Office reportedly said.
PM Modi dedicated the honour to both the people of India and the generations of Fiji-Indian community, adding that the latter played a key role for the enduring ties between two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted.
Papua New Guinea conferred its highest civilian order, Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu (GCL), on PM Modi for what it said championing the cause of unity of Pacific Island countries as well as supporting the cause of Global South.
Several nations have previously conferred on PM Modi their highest civilian honours, illustrating India’s growing importance on global stage.