PM Modi, Jamaica PM Holness hail 'cricket diplomacy' between the two nations

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Updated: October 1, 2024 8:40 p.m. EAST

New Delhi [India]October 1 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Tuesday hailed the “cricket diplomacy” between the two countries and highlighted how cricket's soft power has played an important role in strengthening links between peoples. two countries.
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has praised India's cricketing prowess and Jamaica's excellence in athletics, adding that this provides enormous opportunities for mutual exchange and cooperation.
Addressing a press conference, Prime Minister Holness said: “Prime Minister, you can count on Jamaica's continued support and active engagement in these initiatives as well as in the context of the International Solar Alliance. Jamaica's excellence in athletics and India's excellence and prowess. in cricket are winning combinations and provide enormous opportunities for mutual exchange and cooperation.
“I congratulate India on their victory in the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup hosted in the West Indies in June and their recent gold medal at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad last month,” he said. he added.
He added that the two leaders discussed collaboration in the field of creative industries, including cinema.
“During our meeting, we also discussed collaboration in the creative industries. Jamaica recently established a Film Fund, which demonstrates the Jamaican Government's intention to support Jamaican filmmakers. We recognize the enormous success of Bollywood and look forward to the collaboration between the Indian film industry and hundreds of filmmakers in Jamaica,” said the Jamaican Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Modi also spoke of the close ties between the two countries and also highlighted the high regard given to Jamaican cricketers among Indian fans and expressed confidence that ties between the two countries will evolve faster than “Usain Bolt” now.
“Relations between India and Jamaica are based on our shared history, democratic values ​​and close people-to-people ties. They are marked by the 4 Cs: culture, cricket, Commonwealth and CARICOM (Caribbean Community). In today's meeting, we discussed strengthening our cooperation in all these areas and identified new initiatives,” Prime Minister Modi said.
“Like cricket-loving nations, sport forms a very strong and important link between our bonds. Whether it is the legendary fast bowling of Courtney Walsh or the fast batting of Chris Gayle, Indians hold in esteem special for Jamaican cricketers We also discussed deepening our ties in sport. I firmly believe that the results of today's discussions will push our ties faster than 'Usain Bolt' and we will continue to reach new heights,” he added.

Later in the day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted that many discussions between the two prime ministers centered on cricket and how many Jamaican cricketers were so popular among Indian fans. The Jamaican Prime Minister also thanked India for its contribution to the scoreboards and lighting at the Sabina Park stadium in Jamaica.
“There was a lot of discussion about cricket; in fact Chris Gayle was also at the Prime Minister's lunch, so there was a lot of discussion about cricket and its contributions.
from Jamaica to the world of cricket and how cricket icons such as Courtney Walsh and Chris Gale are so popular in India…I would say that in all the meetings, cricket emerged as a natural topic of discussion,” a- he declared.
“Prime Minister Holness expressed his deep appreciation for India's contribution to the Sabina Park display boards as well as the lighting done there,” Mazumdar said.
The Jamaican Prime Minister is on an official visit to India from September 30 to October 3. This is his first visit to India, and also the first ever bilateral visit by a Jamaican Prime Minister to India.
He arrived in New Delhi on Monday at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary warmly welcomed the Jamaican Prime Minister at the airport. He will visit Sarnath and will also participate
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with his Jamaican counterpart Andrew Holness at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Tuesday. The bilateral meeting was followed by delegation-level talks between the two leaders.
India and Jamaica share strong historical and cultural ties, reflected in their common colonial past, their values ​​of democracy and freedom and their passion for cricket, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The visit is expected to strengthen bilateral relations, strengthen economic cooperation and solidify the long-standing ties between Jamaica and India. (ANI)