German President Arrives In New Delhi On Six-day State Visit

New Delhi, Feb 5, IRNA -- German President Joachim Guack arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday evening on a six-day state visit to India. Minister of State for Home Affairs, R P N Singh received Guack and Mrs. Daniela Schadt at the airport here today. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation including Ministers, Member of Parliament and business leaders. The visiting dignitary will meet his counterpart Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Vice-President, Mohd Hamid Ansari, Leader of the Opposition Mrs. Shushma Swaraj and UPA Chairperson, Mrs Sonia Gandhi will call on the President tomorrow. President Guack will also visit Karnataka from 7–9 February, where he will have a meeting with Governor of Karnataka among other engagements. According to MEA release, relations between India and Germany have traditionally been cordial and close. India and Germany are strategic partners since 2000. With the commencement of Inter-Governmental Consultations in 2011, there has been significant progress in all areas of bilateral cooperation through regular high-level exchanges at the Head of Government level, cooperation in strategic areas, growing economic and commercial ties and increased interaction in the fields of education, science and technology, culture and people-to-people relations. Germany continues to be Indiaˈs largest trading partner in Europe. India and Germany also work closely together in the international arena./end