New Delhi, Dec 29 (Agency) The upcoming visit of prime minister Narendra Modi to the United Arab Emirate has been rescheduled amid a global surge in cases of Omicron variant. The visit which was planned to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries has been postponed for the time being, sources said. India has reported 9,195 COVID19 cases and 302 deaths in past 24 hours, the government said today.
Modi was also scheduled to visit the Indian Pavillion in the ongoing Dubai Expo during this first visit in the new year. The signing of the India-UAE Free Trade Agreement was also planned during the visit. The bilateral defence ties between India and UAE have also been improved in past couple of years. Indian Army Chief Gen MM Naravane went to the UAE last year in a first by any Indian Army Chief to the UAE. The then IAF Chief RKS Bhadauria also visited the gulf country indicating a scale up in defence and strategic relations.