Ahmedabad : Narendra Modi, on his first visit after becoming prime minister, arrived here Tuesday, a day ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s three-day sojourn to India, and said his government had generated a new atmosphere of trust.
Modi flew in to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport here on a two-day official visit to his home state Gujarat.
This is the first home visit of Modi after becoming prime minister. Modi became prime minister in May this year after he led the Bharatiya Janata Party to a stunning victory in the general elections.
Modi, who turns 64 on Wednesday, will welcome Xi the same day. The Chinese president begins his India visit from Ahmedabad.
Governor O.P. Kohli, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, BJP chief Amit Shah, Chief Secretary Varesh Sinha, ministers and MP Paresh Rawal were among those who welcomed Modi at the airport.
Senior officers from the army and the air force along with police chief and senior BJP party leaders too were present.
Modi will stay at the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar during his visit to the state.
The prime minister said Xi’s visit will mark a decisive moment not just for the India-China relationship, but also for the development of Gujarat.
He also said India is now being looked at differently by the world, and the country’s capabilities are being recognised. He said a new chapter will be written in the country’s economic progress.
Addressing party workers after his arrival, Modi said “a new atmosphere of trust has been generated in the government” in the first 100 days’ work of the ruling NDA alliance.
Modi said that he has tried to understand the problems of the country in the first 100 days and to work honestly towards finding solutions to them.
His 14 years’ experience as Gujarat chief minister has helped him a lot in this regard, he added.
He said the support of the people gives him more strength, and the support of party workers gives him more energy to work.
He also said the coming days will see a new environment of good governance and development.
The new heights of development will be reached through Jan-Bhagidari — participation of the people in governance activities, he added.
Modi also urged the party workers to remain united and work together.