'Peace, prosperity, people, planet': Here's PM Modi's statement as he accepts the Zayed Medal - UAE's highest honour

PM Narendra Modi, who was awarded the Zayed Medal or Order of Zayed- UAE's highest decoration - on Thursday thanked UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the honour. He also praised the leadership of the Prince in enhancing the strategic ties between UAE and India highlighting the importance of his friendship to global peaceful relations.

President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan had conferred the Zayed Medal on PM Modi for boosting relations between the Emirates and India. The Zayed Medal is UAE's highest civilian honour, awarded to kings, Presidents, and heads of states and is named after UAE's founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was known for his humanitarian work and philanthropy. 

READ |PM Narendra Modi Conferred With UAE's Highest Decoration - The Zayed Medal. Here's UAE Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Zayed's Statement

The announcement was tweeted by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, who called PM Modi his 'dear friend' and credited him with playing a pivotal role in reinforcing the historical and comprehensive strategic ties with India.

The order of Zayed has previously been conferred upon the then Pakistani President - General Pervez Musharraf in 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2007, the Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth - Elizabeth II in 2010,  the King of Saudi Arabia- Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping  in 2018, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US President George W.Bush and French President Nicholas Sarkozy among others. Among civilians, it has only been conferred upon Sepp Blatter, the 8th president of FIFA in 2003.