German President to arrive in India today

German President Joachim Gauck, will pay a six-day state visit to India beginning today, at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee.

President Joachim Gauck will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, members of Parliament and business leaders.

The visiting dignitary will arrive here this evening. He will inspect a Guard of Honour at Rashtrapati Bhawan the next day, after which he will visit Rajghat to pay homage to the Father of the Nation.

The German President will meet President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Vice-President Hamid Ansari, leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will call on the visiting dignitary.

President Gauck will also visit Karnataka where he will have a meeting with Governor of Karnataka among other engagements.

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 India's largest trading partner in Europe. India and Germany also work closely together in the international arena.