Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) President Pratibha Patil will begin a three-nation tour Saturday, her first foreign visit since she took office in July last year. Patil will visit Brazil, Chile and Mexico during her two-week-long tour. Patil’s visit to the three Latin American nations is expected to strengthen India’s growing trade ties with these countries.

Patil will meet Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Mexican President Felipe De Jesus Calderon Hinojosa and President Michelle Bachelet of Chile during her 12-day visit.

Patil, the first woman president of India, will begin her official visit to Brazil from Sao Paulo, where she will arrive April 13. She will also visit Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia.

In Brazil, Patil will meet a business delegation of the Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paolo (FIESP) and the National Confederation of Industry (CNI). She will also address the Indian community in Sao Paulo.

The president will spend four days in Mexico during which she will visit Mexico city and Guadalajara province.

The president, who will be arrive in Santiago for two days April 20, is scheduled to address the students and academicians in the University of Chile.

Patil will have a stopover in Lisbon on her way to Brazil and will halt in Cape Town while returning to India April 23.

Brazilian President Lula has expressed happiness that India’s first woman president has chosen his country for her first visit abroad. According to Lula, the visit “reflected the desire of the two countries to continue their dialogue at the highest political level with the objective of consolidating and diversifying their strategic partnership.”