Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam 'symbol of our friendship', to usher in hope: PM Modi

New Delhi:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will embark on five-nation -Afghanistan, State of Qatar, Switzerland, United States of America and Mexico - visit beginning on Saturday, has said he is looking forward to visit Afghanistan, where he will join President Ashraf Ghani to inaugurate Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam in Herat. "Looking forward to my visit to Afghanistan tomorrow. I will join President Ashraf Ghani to inaugurate Afghanistan-India Friendship Dam in Herat. It is symbol of our friendship and would usher in hope, light up homes, nourish the fertile fields of Herat and bring prosperity to the people of the region," posted Prime Minister on Facebook. "Look forward to meet my friend President Ashraf Ghani and exchange notes on regional situation and setting agenda for bilateral cooperation in the coming period," he said in a series of Facebook post. Speaking about his visit to Qatar on 4th & 5th June at the invitation of the Emir of Qatar, the Prime Minister said, "Look forward to meeting His Highness Sheikh Tamim whose landmark visit to India last year had ushered in a new momentum in our relations. I will have the honour to meet Father Emir who personally guided our relations for nearly two decades. This visit will nourish the historical bonds of friendship deeply rooted in people to people contacts, energy, trade and investment partnership." "I will interact with the Indian workers at the Workers' Camp and some of the members of over Six lakh Indians who have nurtured our relations through their sweat and toil. Will also speak to Qatar business leaders to realise the full potential of our trade and investment cooperation," he added. Prime Minister Modi, who arrives in Geneva in the evening of 5th June on a bilateral visit to Switzerland, said "I will hold talks with President Schneider-Ammann to deepen our bilateral and multilateral cooperation. "In Geneva, I will meet prominent businesspersons. Our agenda will be to expand economic and investment ties. I will meet Indian scientists working at CERN. India takes pride in their contribution to exploring new frontiers of science in the service of humanity." Talking about the next leg of his journey to the U.S., he said, "I will be reaching Washington DC on a bilateral visit in the evening of 6th June at the invitation of President Barack Obama. In my meeting with the President on 7th June, we will seek to build upon the progress achieved in providing new vigour and momentum to our strategic partnership in diverse areas." "Am looking forward to address the 40th AGM of the USIBC and meet US business leaders who have, over the past two years, shown renewed confidence in the India. I will exchange views with US think-tanks and attend a ceremony marking the return of Indian antiques. During my visit to Arlington Cemetery I will lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider and Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial, in which we lost an Indian origin astronaut, Kalpana Chawla," he said while elaborating about his programmes in the U.S. "On 8th June, I will address a Joint Meeting of the US Congress. I thank Speaker Paul Ryan for inviting me to speak to Congressmen and Senators. During my visit to the US Capitol, I will also interact with members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, many of whom have been valued friends of India and a strong votary of deepening India-USA ties," said the Prime Minister. Saying that India and the U.S. are natural partners, two vibrant democracies that celebrate their diversity and pluralism, the Prime Minister added: "Strong India-USA ties benefit not only our two nations but also the entire world." The Prime Minister said he is looking forward to meeting President Peña Nieto on June 8 during his visit to Mexico - a privileged partner in the Latin American region. "President Peña Nieto has ushered in far reaching reforms. I look forward to sharing our experiences. This is the first Prime Ministerial bilateral visit to Mexico after 30 years. Though short, the visit has a substantial agenda to take our partnership to new heights," the Prime Minister concluded.