Bahrain's Crown Prince arrives on three-day visit

New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) Bahrain's Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa arrived here this evening on a three-day official visit to India aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

The Crown Prince, who is accompanied by Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed al Khalifa, Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro and senior officials and business leaders, was received at the airport by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed.

During the visit, the Crown Prince will call on President A P J Abdul Kalam. He will also have meetings with Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The two countries will sign two agreements to boost exchanges in cultural and information fields.

The Crown Prince will also open Bahrain's Embassy here and give an address at the Indian Council for World Affairs (ICWA).

The Prince who starts his programme tomorrow, will have a meeting with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Later, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vyalar Ravi, Mr E Ahamed and National Security Advisor (NSA) M K Narayanan will separately call on him.

He will also have a meeting with representatives of Indian industry organised by ASSOCHAM/FICCI/CII.

In the evening, he will call on the President and later have a meeting with the Prime Minister at the latter's Race Course Road residence.

On Wednesday, the Crown Prince will deliver the keynote address at the ICWA an will later leave for Agra and Mumbai.

In Mumbai, he will visit the Naval Dockyard and the Bombay Stock Exchange.

UNI