Indian diplomacy is getting two big international recognitions. Prime minister Narendra Modi will be conferred the Seoul Peace Prize by the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation for his dedication to international cooperation and human development efforts. The prize will be awarded during his state visit to Korea on February 21 and 22.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will receive the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit for India's efforts in rescuing Spanish nationals during the Nepal earthquake. Swaraj will accept the award on the last leg of her three-nation tour (February 16-19), covering Morocco, Bulgaria and Spain.
Vijay Thakur Singh, secretary, east, ministry of external affairs, while elaborating on Modi's visit, said that there has been a recent momentum of high-level talks. South Korean President Moon Jae-in had visited India last summer.
The two countries have a special strategic partnership. South Korea is an important partner in India's economic modernisation.
Modi will meet business leaders, the Indian diaspora and the mayor of Geumgwan, a city to whose ruler a princess of Ayodhya was married. He will gift the mayor a sapling of the holy Bodhi tree.
These might be among the last foreign trips of Modi and Swaraj before the country gets into the general election mode.
Meanwhile, New Delhi will be hosting two state visits. Argentina president Mauricio Macri will visit from February 17 to 19, while Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud will be in India from February 19-20.
