New Delhi : President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday embarked on a five-day state visit to Sweden and Belarus, the first ever by any Indian head of state, during which a number of key agreements are likely to be signed. 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.
Mukherjee’s visit to Sweden, where he is headed first, comes on the back of a controversy that broke out over reported remarks made by him to a Swedish daily. But the External Affairs Ministry had firmly shot down speculation that the issue could have an adverse impact on the tour of the Scandinavian nation. After arrival at Swedish capital Stockholm, the President will meet the King and Queen as well as Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, the Speaker of the Swedish Parliament, and the Leader of Opposition, Anna Kinberg Batra, reports PTI.
He will be received at Arlanda Airport by Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel.
