Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides pays tributes to Mahatma Gandhi
New Delhi, May 22
President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi here in the national capital on Friday.
Sharing the visuals from his visit to Rajghat, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a post on X highlighted how Mahatma Gandhi's values continue to inspire the world.
"A tribute to Mahatma! President @Christodulides paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat this morning. Mahatma's enduring ideals of peace and non-violence continue to inspire humanity across the world."
Also on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides held a bilateral meeting at the Hyderabad House. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri were among those present.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides arrived in New Delhi on Thursday, following the Mumbai leg of his visit.
The Ministry of External Affairs earlier noted how his visit builds on the momentum generated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Cyprus in June 2025 and reflects the shared commitment to further strengthening the India-Cyprus partnership."
As part of the official state ceremonies, PM Modi will host a luncheon in honour of the visiting dignitary, and President Droupadi Murmu will receive President Christodoulides and host an official banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also expected to call on the Cypriot President during his stay.
The New Delhi leg follows the initial phase of the four-day State Visit, which began when President Christodoulides arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday. Visiting from May 20 to 23 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it marks his first visit to the country in his current capacity, according to an official statement by the MEA.
The Cyprus President is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades, and senior officials and business leaders.The engagement carries heightened diplomatic weight as the visit comes less than a year after PM Modi's landmark trip to Cyprus in June 2025, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the Mediterranean nation in over two decades.
Adding further strategic significance to the engagement, Cyprus currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The official itinerary commenced in Maharashtra, where President Christodoulides initially touched down and was accorded a ceremonial welcome by Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the Mumbai airport on Wednesday. In an earlier post on X detailing that leg of the trip, the MEA had highlighted that India and Cyprus share time-tested, close relations rooted in shared values and strong people-to-people ties.
While in Mumbai, the Cyprus President participated in a business forum specifically aimed at boosting commercial and investment ties between the two nations, with a strong focus on expanding broader economic engagement.
As part of the official state ceremonies, PM Modi will host a luncheon in honour of the visiting dignitary, and President Droupadi Murmu will receive President Christodoulides and host an official banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also expected to call on the Cypriot President during his stay.
With both nations looking to mark 65 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, officials have described this state visit as a crucial step in building on the growing momentum of the bilateral partnership and strengthening cooperation within the broader India-European Union framework.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While it's nice that the Cyprus president visited Gandhi's memorial, I wish our government would focus more on domestic issues like unemployment. The article mentions business forums and lunches—these high-level visits often feel like photo ops while common people struggle with inflation. Still, any diplomatic link with the EU is strategically important.
Amazing to see India-Cyprus ties deepening! 🇮🇳 After PM Modi's landmark visit in June 2025, this return visit shows our growing global stature. Cyprus holding the EU presidency makes this even more significant for trade and investment. Proud moment for Bharat! Jai Hind!
Cyprus is a small island nation but strategically placed in the Mediterranean. Their participation in the business forum in Mumbai is a big plus for our fintech and shipping sectors. The EU connection through Cyprus can open doors for Indian startups. But I hope the partnership goes beyond optics—we need tangible outcomes for Indian exporters.
Mahatma Gandhi's values truly transcend borders. 🙌 It's beautiful that a European leader's first act in Delhi was to pay homage at Rajghat. This is soft power at its best—India's message of non-violence resonates globally. Also, 65 years of diplomatic relations in 2027—what a milestone! Hope the momentum continues.
Respect for the gesture, but I found the repetitive description of the schedule a bit tedious—lunch, banquet, call from Jaishankar—it's all very bureaucratic. More importantly, what actual agreements came out of the business forum? Without concrete deals, these visits are just ceremonial. India needs to push for
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.