Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said India attaches "paramount importance" to strengthening relations with countries in the Indian Ocean region, which is vital for its security and progress.
Modi said this in a pre-departure statement before leaving for Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka on a five-day three-nation foreign tour.
He expressed confidence that his visits to all the three countries will reinvigorate India's relations with them in this all-important region "we call home--the Indian Ocean".
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Modi said he was keenly looking forward to the three-nation visit, observing that India had strong, multifaceted and important relationship with each of these countries and that they all occupied a very important place in its foreign policy.