• Source:JND
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In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Tuesday awarded Brazil's highest civilian honor, the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross during his current State Visit there. This is the 26th international recognition for Prime Minister Modi since he came to power in 2014 and the third on his ongoing five-nation visit that started on July 2.

The Indian Prime Minister was received with complete military honors and a regal ceremonial guard of 114 horses at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil. The two leaders had closed and delegation-level meetings regarding bilateral trade, cooperation in defence, climate change, and multilateral relationships under the BRICS platform. A signing ceremony of major agreements between India and Brazil was also conducted, preceded by press statements and a State Lunch in honor of PM Modi.

Prime Minister Modi’s Brazil visit is part of a broader diplomatic tour that includes high-level engagements with leaders across Latin America and the Caribbean.The Prime Minister’s engagements include strategic talks, cultural exchanges, and the signing of bilateral agreements designed to deepen India’s ties with partner countries across regions. PM Narendra Modi says, "... I want to thank my friend, President Lula, for the warm welcome accorded to us in Rio and Brasilia... The President conferring Brazil's highest honour on me is not just a matter of pride for me, but for 140 crore Indians... President Lula is the chief architect of India-Brazil strategic partnership... I dedicate this honour to our friendship and his deep commitment towards India... We have decided to take bilateral trade to $20 billion in the next five years... Football is the soul of Brazil, while cricket is the Indians' passion. Whether the ball goes beyond the boundary or is in the goal post, a partnership of $20 billion is not difficult..."

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Awards and Honors Received in Trinidad, Ghana, Sri Lanka And Mauritius

The Brazilian award comes days after PM Modi became the first foreign leader to receive The Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, the highest civilian honour of the Caribbean nation. The award was presented by Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamala Persad Bissessar in Port of Spain last Friday, acknowledging Modi’s global leadership, humanitarian efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, and deep ties with the Indian diaspora. Earlier last week, in Accra, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama conferred upon him the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana, recognising Modi’s “distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership”.

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In April, Prime Minister Modi received Sri Lanka’s highest civilian award for Heads of State, the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana, from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for his efforts in strengthening Indo-Lanka ties. In March, Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool awarded PM Modi the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK), the highest civilian award given by Mauritius, on this occasion. It was the first time any Indian leader had been given this recognition. In June, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides also awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III to PM Modi on his visit to Nicosia.