New Delhi, Aug 23 (ANI): Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who is on a four-day state visit to India, was given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here this morning.
He was received by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
He inspected the guard of honour and also met members of the Indian Cabinet.
Nouri al-Maliki, who is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials and Captains of Industry, will call on President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari.
He will hold bilateral talks with Dr. Singh, who will also host an official banquet in honour of the visiting Iraqi leader today.
His other engagements would include meetings with the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.
Prime Minister Maliki will attend a business luncheon meeting jointly organised by the three business chambers, FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM.
In addition to New Delhi, Prime Minister Maliki and his delegation would also be visiting Agra and Mumbai.
This is the first Head of Government-level visit between the two countries since 1975 when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Iraq.
India and Iraq enjoy time-tested, warm and friendly ties, growing cooperation in different fields, including hydrocarbons, agriculture and food security, water resource management, education, infrastructure development, pharmaceuticals and medicare, and information technology.
Iraq has emerged as India's second largest crude oil supplier with bilateral trade in excess of USD 21 billion in 2012-13.
Both countries are committed to enhance their cooperation in energy sector from the buyer-seller to a more broad-based one through mutually beneficial participation in oil exploration, refineries, petrochemical complexes and fertilizer plants. (ANI)
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