Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday received the ‘Royal Order of Polar Star’ Commander Grand Cross, Sweden’s highest honour during his official visit to the Nordic country.
Swedish Crown Princess Victoria presented PM Modi with the award in the presence of Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in a ceremony at the County Governor’s residence.
This is the 31st global honour for Prime Minister Modi.
According to the Swedish Prime Minister’s office, The Order of the Polar Star was instituted in 1748 and is awarded to individuals for their personal endeavours for Sweden or Swedish interests.
The Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf decided to confer the ‘Royal Order of the Polar’ Commander Grand Cross, upon Prime Minister Modi, the Swedish Prime Minister’s office said.
Reacting to the award, PM Modi said that it was an honour not just for him but for the 140 crore Indians.
“Some time ago, I was conferred with Sweden’s highest honour- the Order of the Polar Star. This is not merely an honour for me. It is an honour for the 140 crore people of India. It is also an honour for all our friends in Sweden who have enriched India-Sweden relations,” Modi said at the European Round Table for Industry.
PM Modi said that the relationship between India and Sweden rests upon a strong foundation of democratic values, the rule of law, and human-centric development.
“Both our nations view innovation as a vehicle for development, regard sustainability as a shared responsibility, and consider democracy to be our greatest strength.”
In light of the growing cooperation across every sector, Modi said that India and Sweden have decided to elevate this relationship to the level of a Strategic Partnership.
PM Modi and his Swedish counterpart Kristersson also exchanged special gifts commemorating Rabindranath Tagore and the enduring civilisational and intellectual ties between India and Sweden, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
Earlier today, PM Modi arrived in Sweden on the third leg of his five-nation visit and was received by his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, at the airport in Gothenburg.
Swedish Gripen fighter jets escorted PM Modi’s plane as it entered the country’s airspace.