New Delhi: The Minister President of Netherlands Mark Rutte gifted a bicycle to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this may be the strangest gift Indian PM received since he took charge in May 2014.


On Tuesday, following delegation-level talks headed by PM Modi and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte, India and the Netherlands reaffirmed their commitment to combat terrorism and prevent radicalisation that could lead to violent extremism and called for a collective effort by the international community against this scourge.

"Expressing concern about the serious and grave threat posed by the spread of terrorism and violent extremism to both countries and the world, the Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to combat terrorism and prevent radicalisation that could lead to violent extremism and reiterated the need for a unified and collective effort by the international community to eliminate terrorism through a holistic approach," a joint communique stated.

It said both Modi and Rutte stressed that there can be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever and agreed that there should be zero-tolerance on terrorism.

Like several other European nations, the Netherlands has also been a target of terrorism.

"They affirmed that the fight against terrorism should not only seek to disrupt and bring to justice terrorists, terror organisations and networks, but should also identify, hold accountable and take strong measures against all those who encourage, support and finance terrorism, provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups, and falsely extol their virtues," the statement said.

PM also invited Dutch businesses, particularly its pension funds, to invest in India "where doing business is being rapidly eased" through a series of economic reforms.

Modi, who is on an official visit to the Netherlands, met the country's leading chief executives, along with his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte, here in the nation's capital.

PM returned to India early on Wednesday morning after his three-nation tour.

PM visited also visited Portugal and US.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj received Modi at the Delhi airport.

(With inputs from agencies)