Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday evening for a state visit, marking his first official trip to India as President. The visit coincides with the celebrations of 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Upon his arrival, Tharman was received at the airport by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada. His five-day visit, scheduled from January 14 to 18, includes meetings with President Droupadi Murmu, who will host a banquet in his honor. Tharman will also hold discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi following a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Thursday.
During his visit, Tharman is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising ministers, members of parliament, and senior officials. He is also set to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other Indian dignitaries. In addition to engagements in New Delhi, Tharman will visit Odisha on January 17 and 18.
“India and Singapore have extensive cooperation based on a long tradition of friendship, trust and mutual respect. President Tharman’s visit is expected to provide further momentum to bilateral relations, which were elevated to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Singapore in September 2024,” said MEA in a statement.
Prime Minister Modi has recently hailed the progress made in bilateral cooperation in a multitude of forward-looking areas.
“My visit to Singapore has been a very fruitful one. It will certainly add vigour to bilateral ties and benefit the people of our nations. I thank the government and people of Singapore for their warmth,” PM Modi posted on X after wrapping-up his two-day visit to Singapore in September 2024.
Tharman and Prime Minister Modi have previously discussed the potential for growth in India, driven by digital and social investments. They also reviewed efforts to enhance economic linkages to benefit the populations of both nations.
The visit is expected to bolster ongoing collaborations and explore new avenues to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Singapore.
–IANS
