NEW DELHI: Israel President Reuven Rivlin, who arrived here yesterday on an eight-day official visit to India, received a ceremonial welcome in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan.
President Rivlin was received and welcomed by his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with whom he would hold bilateral talks later in the day.
President Mukherjee will also host a banquet in his honour.
“I am very honoured and very pleased to be the guest of President Mukherjee. He was along with us a year ago and we are very privileged and honoured today to be here in your great country in India. Thank you so much for welcoming me Mr. President,” President Rivlin told the media after receiving the ceremonial welcome.
The meeting between President Rivlin and Prime Minister Modi will take place at 11.30 a.m., at the Hyderabad House, which will be followed by the signing of agreements and press statement at 12.30 p.m. The focus of the talks is likely to be on agricultural cooperation between the two sides. India and Israel enjoy excellent relations marked by strong ties in the areas of economy and commerce, science and technology, research and innovation, culture and tourism, education etc.
Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari will call on President Rivlin at 4 p.m. at Hotel Taj Palace, while the visiting President will call on his Indian counterpart at the Rashtrapati Bhawan 7.30 p.m., which will be followed by a banquet hosted by President Mukherjee at 8 p.m.
Later, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will call on the visiting dignitary.
President Rivlin will be visiting the Taj Mahal at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, followed by a visit to Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam Water Treatment Plant at Sikandra at 12 in the noon.
He will return here at 3.45 p.m.
President Rivlin, who is visiting India on an invitation of President Mukherjee, is expected to meet business leaders of both India and Israel. He will also be visiting ‘Centre of Excellence’ in agriculture in Karnal and will participate in Agro Tech – 2016 on Thursday.