India, Spain to strengthen ties

President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday stressed on expanded trade and political ties with Madrid ahead of her meetings with the Spanish leadership in which terrorism will also figure. Aloke Tikku reports.

Updated on: Apr 22, 2009, 02:22:40 IST

Hindustan Times | By Aloke Tikku, Madrid

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President Pratibha Patil on Tuesday stressed on expanded trade and political ties with Madrid ahead of her meetings with the Spanish leadership in which terrorism will also figure.

“Both trade and investment flows need to be further bolstered. It is for this reason that I have a business delegation accompanying me,” said Patil, 74, who arrived in Madrid on a two-nation trip on Monday.

Patil is accompanied by Ashwani Kumar, Minister of State for Commerce and Industrial Promotion and would be present at meetings of entrepreneurs from both sides on Wednesday.

We seek to promote ties in all fields — political, trade and investment, cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, agriculture and tourism, as well as enhanced cultural exchanges,” she said during her visit to the Spanish parliament. This is the first visit by India’s head of state to Spain.

Earlier in the day Patil was welcomed by Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia in front of El Pardo Palace.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aloke Tikku
Aloke Tikku has covered internal security, transparency and politics for Hindustan Times. He has a keen interest in legal affairs and dabbles in data journalism.

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