New Delhi: German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder today (Oct 6, 2004) arrived on a two-day state visit to further strengthen bilateral ties with India during which he will hold talks with President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his first interaction with the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government.

Schroeder was warmly received by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on his arrival this morning.

He was accompanied by German Education and Research Minister Edelgard Bulmahn, Parliamentary State Secretary Ditmar Staffelt and a high-level official, business and media delegation.

Schroeder will call on President Kalam and hold extensive parleys with Prime Minister Singh who will host a lunch in his honour.

The German Chancellor will deliver the seventh Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Lecture on Peace and Stability in a Globalised World at the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in New Delhi.

The visit is part of annual summit-level interaction between India and Germany, which was institutionalised during Schroeder's last visit to India in October, 2001. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Germany in May, 2003.

India attaches great importance to the visit which is seen as a landmark in bilateral partnership. It will provide an excellent opportunity to review bilateral relations including cooperation in economic and science and technology sectors.