Commonwealth Sec Gen arrives for talks with Indian leaders

New Delhi, Mar 21 (UNI) Commonwealth Secretary General Don Mckinnon arrived here today on a three-day official visit for meetings with President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders.

''The visit is part of his regular exchange of views with Government of India, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said.

He last visited India in February, 2006.

Mr Mckinnon will call on the President and the Prime Minister. He will also meet Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath and Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed.

Mr Ahaamed will host a dinner in his honour.

Mr Mckinnon will also participate in the International e-Partnership Summit of the Commonwealth Connects Programme, which will be inaugurated by the President on March 23. He will deliver a lecture on '21st Century Challenges' at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).

India will host the 53rd annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference in September 2007. It had previously hosted this event in 1957, 1975 and 1991.

India will also organise the conference of Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers in 2010.

The Commonwealth Youth Games and the Commonwealth Games will also be hosted by India respectively in Pune in 2008 and New Delhi in 2010.

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