Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (21) received an unprecedented welcome from his Papua New Guinean counterpart after he reached the Pacific island-nation as the first Indian premier.
After he descended the stairs of the flight around 10 pm local time at the airport in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea (PNG), its prime minister James Marape touched his feet. The two leaders then hugged each other.
The two leaders were set to co-host the Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation on Monday (22) along with other Pacific island leaders.
"I am grateful that all 14 Pacific Island Countries (PIC) have accepted the invitation to attend this important summit (FIPIC)," Modi had said earlier.
Leaders of Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were touched by Marape's gesture. Sambit Patra, the party's national spokesperson, said in a tweet, “…the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea pays respects to the Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji by touching his feet. This profound visual exemplifies India's growth and influence under the leadership of PM Modi."
Another BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill tweeted, “As they say respect is earned & this video of Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape greeting PM Modi shows India’s strength, respect in world under strong well meaning leadership of PM @narendramodi Ji . Jai Hind."
Modi, who reached PNG from Japan where he took part in the G7 summit where several world leaders were present, also received a grand welcome from the Indian diaspora. They were seen cheering the prime minister and clicking selfies with him.
Modi is the first prime minister to visit PNG.
"After a successful visit to Japan, PM @narendramodi emplanes for Papua New Guinea, for the second leg of his three-nation tour," India's ministry of external affairs tweeted.
From PNG, Modi will go to Australia where he will have a bilateral meeting with his local counterpart Anthony Albanese and attend a grand ceremony by the Indian diaspora in Sydney.
Mourners pay tribute to Air India Flight 171 plane crash victim Vijay Rupani, former Gujarat chief minister, at the crash site on the first anniversary of the disaster in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2026. India's aviation accident probe agency is facing renewed criticism from pilot groups ahead of the anniversary of the 2025 Air India Boeing-787 crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people. Getty Images
Lindy Cameron, British high commissioner to India, gestures during a prayer meeting in memory of Air India Flight 171 plane crash victims at BJ Medical College on the first anniversary of the disaster in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2026. India's aviation accident probe agency is facing renewed criticism from pilot groups ahead of the anniversary of the 2025 Air India Boeing-787 crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people. Getty Images