India wants to expand ties with Israel: PM Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today articulated his strong desire to further expand and strengthen India's relations with Israel, both in traditional areas as well as in new areas of cooperation.

He conveyed this to former Israeli President Shimon Peres when he met him here, according to a PMO statement.

Peres congratulated Modi on his victory in the elections and expressed deep appreciation for the ambitious programmes launched by him for India's economic and social transformation.

The Israeli leader said these programmes struck the right balance between respect for tradition and use of modern technology, the statement said.

Observing that India's development and growth will be beneficial to the entire world, Peres said Israel is ready to partner with India in its development efforts and, in this context, called for greater collaboration in the areas of new and higher technologies.

He also shared his own vision of the way the introduction of new technologies would transform the human lives and the system of governance.

Modi said it was a great honour for him to meet Peres, whose life was a source of inspiration for the entire world.

He lauded the immense contribution of Peres to the world polity and the development of India-Israel relations, in particular.

Recalling his visit to Israel as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi said following that he had promoted use of drip and micro irrigation in the state and also set up an incubation centre to support start-up companies with Israeli collaboration.