Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed visits Gandhi memorial in New Delhi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, pays a tribute at Raj Ghat, the memorial for Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi on Wednesday. Prakash Singh / AFPShow less

NEW DELHI // Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed laid a wreath at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial in the Indian capital during his official visit to the country on Wednesday.

Sheikh Mohammed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, observed a minute’s silence at the Raj Ghat memorial.

“In the history of nations and the memory of peoples, there are immortal personalities and symbols that brought about major transformations in the march of their countries – personalities that were not deterred by challenges and obstacles from accomplishing national objectives in order to achieve a better life for their people,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote in the guest book.

“In modern history, the noble values and human principles of the late Gandhi and Zayed will remain a source of inspiration for successive generations to spread love, peace and harmony between peoples, inspire the spirit of ambition, and aspirations for a brighter future.”

He also viewed a collection of famous quotes by Gandhi and was offered a commemorative gift at the site.

Sheikh Mohammed, who was accompanied by a high-level delegation of UAE ministers and officials, was given a tour of the memorial’s garden courtyard.

While there he watered the friendship tree that had been planted by Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, at the Raj Ghat Square during his official visit to India in 1975, and another that was planted by Sheikh Mohammed during his visit to India in February last year.

The garden also includes trees planted by many other world leaders.

Earlier in the day Sheikh Mohammed visited the Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential Palace and was greeted with an official reception, and welcomed by Indian president Pranab Mukherjee and prime minister Narendra Modi.