Belgium King and Queen in India; MEA Sushma Swaraj call on for strengthening mutual ties

New Delhi, November 7: Today the royal couple, Belgium’s King Philippe and the Queen Mathilde was accorded with ceremonial reception at Rashtra Bhavan. This the first visit of Belgium’s King to India. President Ram Nath Kovind along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomed the King and Queen of Belgium. 

The royal couple was received at the airport by Union Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, according to an official of the Belgian Embassy. Later on Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj called on the Belgium King and Queen to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations. Also, the royal couple paid their tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat Memorial.

 

 

“Swaraj call on His Majesty the King Philippe of Belgium,” engaging conversation on expanding warm and friendly bilateral relations,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The visit will further strengthen the historically strong ties between the two countries, the ministry had said ahead of the visit.The Belgium King is accompanied by a business delegation of nearly 90 people comprising CEOs of Belgian companies.

 

After receiving the ceremonial reception, Belgium's King Philippe, said, "India is a country we love very much, we have many friends here." Further he added "I have been here many times, even came here for our honeymoon. This time it's a state visit. Hope to improve existing good contacts."

President Ram Nath Kovind will hold a meeting with the King and Queen while Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will also call on the royal couple.

The Royal couple is on a seven-day visit to India with an aim of boosting overall cooperation between India and Belgium, with a focus on further ramping up trade and investment ties.

India is Belgium's second largest export destination and the third largest trading partner outside the European Union. According to official data, in 2016-17, bilateral trade amounted to USD 13.28 billion of which exports from India to Belgium accounted for USD 5.65 billion while imports from Belgium accounted for USD 6.62 billion.