Palestinian President set to his official three-day visit to India

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to arrive on a three-day state visit to India on Monday evening during which he will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He will arrive at the Air Force Station in Palam at around 9 pm today.

The official sources inform that on Tuesday, a ceremonial reception will be hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here in honour of the visiting dignitary. The Palestinian President will thereafter lay a wreath at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at the Rajghat here.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will then call on President Abbas at 'The Leela Palace' here at around 10: 15 a.m.

The Palestinian President will then hold delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister at the Hyderabad House here at around 11: 30 a.m. where a slew of issues, including the faltering peace process and to bolster developmental partnership between the two sides are expected to discuss.

After the talks, the two sides will ink MOUs for cooperation in ICT, vocational training and constructing schools in Palestine.

Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari will then call on President Abbas at 'The Leela Palace' here at around 4: 30p.m.

The Palestinian President will then meet President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here at around 7: 30 p.m. He will be accompanied by senior ministers.

During the visit, India is expected to reiterate its support for the Palestinian cause and solidarity with the Palestinian people.

President Abbas will depart from New Delhi on Wednesday.

--With Agencies Inputs--