New Delhi: Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam has begun a four-day state visit to India starting Sunday, as the two countries mark 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
"This is President Tan's first state visit to India, and will showcase our longstanding and strong relations with India as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore in 2015," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The Singaporean leader will be welcomed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at Raj Ghat.
During his visit till February 11, Mr Tan will meet his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee, who will host him at a state banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will also have meetings with Mr Tan.
He will inaugurate the opening of the Peranakan Exhibition themed "The Peranakan World: Cross-Cultural Art from Singapore and the Malacca Straits", which is the main commemorative event celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations, at the National Museum in New Delhi.
He will also launch the Singapore-India Commemorative Book published by the Institute of South Asian Studies, and attend the "Flavours of Singapore" hosted for the Singaporean community in New Delhi.
As part of Singapore's SG50 outreach, First Lady Mary Tan will be presenting a donation of 300 Singapore-themed books to the National Library of India under the National Library Board of Singapore's SG50 Gift of Books project.
The books include topics on Singapore's biodiversity, history, economic development, literature, and arts and culture.
Mr Tan will be accompanied by several senior Singaporean ministers.
