Israeli President in India on week-long visit

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin arrived here on Monday on a week-long state visit -- the first by an Israeli President in nearly 20 years.

Rivlin is here on the invitation of President Pranab Mukherjee.

The Israeli President was welcomed by Union Minister Harsh Vardhan and the Israeli Ambassador Daniel Carmon.

The last Israeli President to visit India was Ezer Weizman. He came in January 1997.

President Mukherjee visited Israel in October 2015, symbolizing the growing partnership between the two nations.

Rivlin will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

Rivlin, accompanied by a large business delegation, will also visit Agra, Karnal in Haryana, Chandigarh and Mumbai.

In Agra, besides visiting the Taj Mahal, he will take a look at an adjacent Israeli water treatment plant called "Aqwise".

In Karnal, Rivlin will visit the Centre of Excellence in Agriculture set up with Israeli assistance.

In Chandigarh, he along with President Mukherjee will jointly inaugurate Agro Tech 2016 organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Rivlin will visit Mumbai on the last day of his India tour on his way back to Israel. He will attend a commemorative function in memory of the victims of the 26/11 terror attack.

He will also meet members of the Jewish community in Mumbai.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Israel in January this year and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in November last year.

--IANS

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