President, Pranab Mukherjee with King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia at the royal palace in Stockholm,Sweden on 31 May, 2015. (PTI Photo)
President Pranab Mukherjee today arrived here on the first leg of his five-day state visit to Sweden and Belarus, the first ever by any Indian head of state, during which a number of key agreements on sustainable development, scientific research are likely to be signed.
Upon his arrival, Mukherjee was received by Crown Princess Victoria at the Arland airport. Later, he was received at the Royal Mews by the King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia from where he was taken on a horse-drawn cortege to the Royal Palace, where the traditional welcoming ceremony took place.
Earlier in New Delhi, he was given a ceremonial send-off at Rashtrapati Bhavan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the three Service Chiefs.
During his three-day State visit, the President will meet Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, the Speaker of the Swedish Parliament, and the Leader of Opposition, Anna Kinberg Batra besides number of meetings with the King and the Queen.
Mukherjee would be visiting the world renowned medical research centre Karolinska Institute and Uppsala University, the oldest university in Europe which was started in 1477.
The visit will focus on innovation, sustainable development, urban development and scientific research with both countries exploring ways to enhance mutual exchange in the areas of trade and science.
The President will also interact with the members of the Indian community, which comprises 18,000 People of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India card holders and Indian Passport holders working in the hospitality industry and IT sector.