New Delhi: The crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, planted an amaltas sapling at Rajghat Monday, creating a unique legacy in ties between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is the first time three generations of leaders from a country have planted trees at the site honouring the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi.
“India and the UAE share a multifaceted relationship of which sustainability partnership forms a key pillar. This special bond is highlighted through a unique tradition of tree planting by UAE leaders at Rajghat in New Delhi,” a diplomatic source said.
This comes eight years after the crown prince’s father, the current president of the gulf country, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, or MBZ, planted a molshri (Mimusops Elengi) sapling. He, in turn, followed in the footsteps of his father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the country, who had also planted an amaltas sapling, scientifically known as the Cassia Fistula, in 1992.
On Monday, the crown prince was welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House where they held talks and signed multiple agreements, including on nuclear energy and oil. He arrived in India Sunday for a two-day visit to boost bilateral relations.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India-UAE trade reached $85 billion in 2022-23, making it India’s third largest trading partner for the year after China and the US. That year, the UAE was the 4th biggest FDI investor for India.
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