New Delhi: Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy arrived in New Delhi today (November 2) on a 7- day visit to India during which a slew of agreements to enhance Defence and economic co-operation would be signed by the two countries.

The visit of Medgyessy assumes significance as it is the first to India by a Hungarian Prime Minister in 29 years. It also comes six months before Hungary joins the European Union.

He was received by Minister of State for Finance Shripad Naik and senior officials at the airport.

"The visit is a landmark event and is expected to reinforce the friendly ties between the two countries," External Affairs Ministry officials said.

It is also the first visit at the Head of Government-level after the political and economic transformation in that country in the early 1990s, they said.

Madgyessy, accompanied by a high-level delegation, would hold wide-ranging parleys with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the entire range of bilateral relations and on key regional and international issues of mutual interest.

He would also call on President A P J Abdul Kalam and Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat besides meeting External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi.

During the visit, India and Hungary are slated to sign agreements on avoidance of double taxation, bilateral promotion and protection of investment, Defence co-operation, and cultural and educational exchange programmes.

PTI