World's perception of India has changed: Modi in Seoul

The world's perception of India has changed in the past one year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address to the Indian community in Seoul.

"In the last one year the world's perception about India has changed," Modi said amid loud chants of "Modi, Modi" when he interacted with the Indian community here.

"Today people are excited to come to India. This is the mood that has changed. And after all, the people make the Nation," he tweeted.

"India is being seen as the fastest growing economy of the world," he said.

Modi arrived in Seoul on Monday morning, in the last leg of his three-nation visit that also took him to China and Mongolia.

Wonderful being in Seoul, says Modi to enthusiastic welcome 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said it was "wonderful being in Seoul" as he arrived to an enthusiastic welcome from the Indian community.

"Wonderful being in Seoul. My gratitude to the Indian community here for the very warm welcome," the prime minister tweeted.

Indian community members in large number, waving small tri-colour flags, were at the ROK Airbase to welcome the prime minister, who arrived from Ulan Bator.

"Immense enthusiasm as PM @narendramodi reaches South Korea," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted with a picture of Indian diaspora members enthusiastically greeting the prime minister.

"Indian community welcomes PM @narendramodi to South Korea," the PMO tweeted.

"Annyeonghaseyo to the land of the morning calm! PM @narendramodi arrives in Seoul," external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

Modi arrived in South Korea from Mongolia on a two-day visit.

After his arrival in Seoul, Modi went to lay a wreath at the Seoul National Cemetery.

He is set to attend a reception by the Indian community, during which 1,500 members will be present.

later, he will be accorded an official welcome after which he will hold talks with President Park Geun-hye. A number of agreements are to be inked. Both leaders will make press statements.

President Park will host a banquet in honour of the Indian prime minister in the evening.

India, Pakistan evacuated each other's nationals from Yemen: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that "manavta" or humanity was the basis of his government's foreign policy, which was also visible in the way India helped evacuate Pakistani nationals from Yemen and Pakistan too brought back 11 Indians from the war-torn country.

Addressing the Indian community in Seoul, Modi said: "In Yemen, 4,000 Indians were stranded amid bombings and firings. We requested (Saudi authorities) to stop the bombing for two hours and brought back our people as well as 48 foreign nationals. Even America told its people to contact us to evacuate them from Yemen," he said to loud applause.

"In Yemen, we evacuated Pakistanis too. They too saved Indians and arranged for a special plane to bring them back. The point here is manavta (humanity)."

last month, Modi had posted his appreciation of the Pakistani evacuation of 11 Indians on twitter and thanked his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

Modi wrote on micro-blogging website Twitter: "I welcome our 11 citizens who've returned from Yemen with assistance from Pakistan. Thank you PM Nawaz Sharif for your humanitarian gesture."

Modi visits Seoul National Cemetery

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday visited the Seoul National Cemetery here.

He arrived earlier in the day from Mongolia on a two-day visit.

At the cemetery, he joined a wreath-laying ceremony. From here, he is slated to attend a reception by the Indian community, during which 1,500 members are expected to be present.

He will be accorded an official welcome after which he will hold talks with President Park Geun-hye.