Indian President arrives for 5-day state visit in PH

INDIAN PRESIDENT IN MANILA. Indian President Ram Nath Kovind troops the line, escorted by Lt General Antonio Ramon Lim, Inspector General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, shortly upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City on Thursday (Oct. 17, 2019). Welcoming the Indian leader are Health Secretary Francisco Duque and officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA — Indian President Ram Nath Kovind arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Thursday afternoon for his five-day state visit upon the invitation of President Rodrigo Duterte.

He was onboard a chartered Air India flight that touched down in Manila at 4:24 p.m.

Kovind was welcomed by Chief of Presidential Protocol and Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert Borje, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III, DOH Undersecretary Lilibeth David, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Enrique Manalo, Philippine Ambassador to India Ramon Bagatsing Jr., Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Ed Monreal, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Jaideep Mazumdar and Mrs. Parvati Mazumdar, and Defense Attache Sandeep Marathe.

He is the third Indian leader to make a state visit here since the establishment of the Philippines-India bilateral relations in 1949.

The DFA earlier said Kovind and Duterte will hold a bilateral meeting on Oct. 18 in Malacañang to discuss areas of mutual interest, including political, economic, cultural, and people-to-people engagement.

During his state visit from Oct. 17 to 21, Kovind is also set to meet with members of the Indian community in the Philippines and the Filipino beneficiaries of the Mahaveer Philippine Foundation Inc.

He will also attend events organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (Phil) Inc. (FICCI).