Fiji President calls on President Mukherjee in Delhi

New Delhi, Aug.7 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee received his counterpart from Fiji Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, who is in India on a private visit.

This is the first president to be received Mukherjee after he assumed office.

The President of Fiji was also on his first visit to India and had stopped over in Delhi on his way back to Fiji from the London Olympics.

President Mukherjee extended a warm welcome to the President of Fiji and recollected the close historical relations between the two countries as well as presence of a large number of persons of Indian origin in Fiji.

The Indian Cultural Center in Suva, set up in August 1972 is India's oldest cultural center in the world.

President Mukherjee called for an expansion of bilateral trade and investment. He also referred to the assistance provided to Fiji by India in the agriculture and sugar sectors.

He expressed happiness that India's development experience was being shared with Fiji through provision of training slots for Fiji nationals and scholarships for students. He referred to assistance being provided in the health sector as well as cooperation in the defence field.

Fiji has recently joined the Non-Alignment Movement. Mukherjee welcomed its joining of NAM and the support provided by Fiji for reform of the UN Security Council as well as multilateral financial institutions.

The President of Fiji congratulated Mukherjee on his attaining the pinnacle of his career. He said he was honoured to be the first President to call on the President of India. This was an honour to all the people of Fiji.

He said Fiji has close cordial relations with India and was beneficiary of India's gracious assistance especially in the field of agriculture. Fiji has much to learn from India. The cultural center in Suva has added tradition and colour to the fabric of Fiji society.

He said that the Prime Minister of Fiji had returned from India a few months back with glowing reports of his visit and Fiji looks forward to strengthening its relations with India in the coming years.

The President of Fiji extended an invitation to President Mukherjee to visit Fiji. (ANI)