Iran Prez. to visit India on Apr 29, discuss energy including IPI

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit India on April 29 and have talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on issues of mutual interest including the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project.

This will be the first visit to India by an Iranian Head of State in five years.

The talks will focus on the multi-billion dollar energy projects between the two countries, including the 2600-km IPI gas pipeline.

The Iranian President, who will be flying en route to Tehran from Colombo, will also call on President Pratibha Patil during the brief visit.

''The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, will be paying a brief visit to Delhi on the afternoon of April 29 en route to Tehran from Colombo. During his stay in Delhi, he will be calling on the President. He will also meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for discussions on issues of mutual interest,'' the External Affairs Ministry said here this evening.

The Iranian President will arrive here in the afternoon after completing a State visit to Colombo amid indications that both countries would hold final talks on price of gas supply.

An official of the Iranian embassy here said trilateral talks between India, Pakistan and Iran on the IPI will be held in ''near future.'' UNI RB PK RAI2122