India, July 9 -- Indian PM Narendra Modi was conferred with Brazil's highest national honour, "The Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross", on Tuesday.

The award was conferred upon him by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Prime Minister Modi expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the President, the Government, and the people of Brazil for the distinguished honour.

Accepting the award, he noted that the honour was a tribute to the 1.4 billion people of India, and to the enduring bonds of friendship between India and Brazil.

He further stated that President Lula was the architect of India-Brazil Strategic Partnership, and the award was as much an honour to his untiring efforts to take the bilateral ties to g...