Portuguese PM arrives in India on a two-day visit

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa on Thursday arrived in Delhi on a two-day visit to India.

Costa visited India on an invitation extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the second meeting of the Organising Committee on the celebrations for the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi today.

The Organising Committee meeting would be presided over by President Ram Nath Kovind.

Costa will also hold official talks with Prime Minister Modi today. The Ministry of External Affairs statement said this will be the third official meeting between the Prime Ministers in a span of three years.

Costa's present visit to India is his first bilateral visit outside Europe after being re-elected as the Prime Minister on October 6, 2019.

"The high-level political exchanges between India and Portugal have imparted a robust momentum to bilateral relations, including in several new areas such as science and technology, defence, startups, shipping, youth exchanges and culture. This visit would provide another opportunity to the leaders to review the whole gamut of bilateral relations and forge closer cooperation in areas of mutual interest," the MEA said.