Bratislava: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Slovakia’s top national honour, The Order of the White Double Cross (1st Class), on Monday.
The award, presented by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini at a ceremony in Bratislava, marks the 33rd international honour received by PM Modi, PTI reported.
“Honoured to receive The Order of the White Double Cross (1st Class) in Bratislava this evening. My gratitude to the peo
ple and Government of Slovakia for this honour, which belongs to the 140 crore people of India. I dedicate this award to the enduring friendship between India and Slovakia,” PM Modi posted on social media.
The prime minister described the accolade as proof of the warm ties, mutual confidence, and affection linking the citizens of India and Slovakia, and expressed hope that it would motivate future generations in both countries to further strengthen their special relationship, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.
Conferred only on foreign nationals, The Order of the White Double Cross (1st Class) is Slovakia’s highest civilian and military state decoration.
PM Modi’s visit to Bratislava is part of a weeklong European tour and represents the first trip by an Indian prime minister to Slovakia.
Earlier during the visit, India and Slovakia upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive partnership and signed 11 agreements aimed at widening cooperation across fields including migration, digital technology, and defence.