PM Modi Thanks World Leaders for Greetings on Completing 25 Years as Head of Government

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday thanked several world leaders for their greetings and warm messages marking his completion of 25 years as the head of a government, as congratulatory messages continued to arrive from abroad.

Responding to Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Modi highlighted the longstanding friendship between the two countries and said India looked forward to further expanding bilateral cooperation.

“Thank you, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, for your warm wishes and kind words. The friendship between India and Trinidad and Tobago continues to scale new heights. We look forward to strengthening our partnership in the years to come,” Modi said in a post on X.

Persad-Bissessar had congratulated Modi on what she described as a significant milestone in his public service, noting that he had completed 25 years of continuous service as head of government at both the state and national levels.

Modi also thanked Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell for his greetings and said India attaches importance to its friendship with the Caribbean nation.

“I deeply value the friendship between India and Grenada and look forward to further strengthening our close ties,” Modi posted. Mitchell had earlier congratulated the Prime Minister and expressed hope that the relationship between the two countries would continue to deepen.

The Prime Minister also responded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, thanking him for his wishes and congratulating him on taking office for another term.

Recalling his visit to Ethiopia last December and his recent meeting with Ali in New Delhi, Modi said India attaches considerable importance to its Strategic Partnership with Ethiopia.

“India greatly values its Strategic Partnership with Ethiopia, and I look forward to working closely with you to further deepen our cooperation and friendship,” he said.

Ali had congratulated Modi on completing 25 years as head of government, recalling his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister beginning in 2001 and his subsequent service as Prime Minister since 2014.

Modi also expressed gratitude to Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema for his congratulatory message and said India looked forward to further strengthening its partnership with Zambia.

Hichilema had noted that Modi first took oath as Gujarat Chief Minister on October 7, 2001, and extended his wishes on the completion of 25 years in public office.

The Prime Minister also thanked Kazakhstan President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev for his greetings, describing India and Kazakhstan as close friends and strategic partners.

“I deeply value our close friendship and strategic partnership with Kazakhstan. Look forward to working together to further strengthen and deepen our bilateral ties,” Modi said.

Toqayev had described Modi's 25-year journey as a remarkable milestone and praised India's progress in areas including sustainable development and science and technology, as well as its growing role internationally.

Modi also thanked Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and expressed confidence that India-Japan relations would reach new heights as the two countries prepare to mark 75 years of diplomatic ties.

Recalling Takaichi's visit to India in July, Modi said the trip had further strengthened the bilateral partnership. He added that India and Japan would continue working together for global peace, stability and prosperity.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's message, thanking him for his friendship and contribution to India-Serbia relations. Modi praised Vucic's service to Serbia and said he looked forward to taking the bilateral partnership to greater heights.

Modi further thanked South Korean President Lee Jae-myung for his warm wishes, recalling his visit to India in April and saying it had provided fresh momentum to the two countries' Special Strategic Partnership.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that India and South Korea would continue expanding cooperation and working towards their shared vision of global peace, stability and prosperity.

The messages came after Modi on Wednesday marked 25 years of uninterrupted service as head of government. He assumed office as Gujarat Chief Minister on October 7, 2001, before becoming Prime Minister of India in 2014.