Ceremonial welcome of President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

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The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee yesterday (April 28, 2015) received His Excellency Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He also hosted a banquet in his honour.

Welcoming President Ghani on his first state visit to India as the President of Afghanistan, President Mukherjee conveyed his condolences over the tragic death of 52 persons in a land slide in the Badakhshan Province earlier in the day. He said India was proud of its close relations with Afghanistan. It was Afghanistan’s first strategic partner.India shares the Afghan President’s goal of building a strong, prosperous and independent Afghanistan. It appreciates the work he is doing and the formation of a national unity government which adds a new dimension to the process of democratic evolution in Afghanistan.

The President said India supports an Afghan led and Afghan owned national reconciliation process within the framework of the Afghan constitution. India-Afghanistan co-operation has neither an expiry date nor a timeline. As a friend and neighbour, India will always stand firmly beside Afghanistan. India considers it a privilege to share its capabilities and experience in nation-building and inclusive development with people of Afghanistan.

The President said efforts should be made to expand bilateral trade which in 2013-14 stood at US$ 683.10 million. 72 Indian companies have invested around US$ 17 million in Afghanistan from 2003-2013. India will encourage more companies to invest in Afghanistan. He expressed confidence that Afghan President’s visit will further strengthen the two countries successful co-operation in all spheres of shared interest.

Responding to the President Mukherjee, the Afghan President said it was a singular honour to be invited to stay in Rashtrapati Bhavan and an important recognition granted to the people of Afghanistan. President Ghani thanked President Mukherjee for his condolences and expressed sympathies for the people of Nepal dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake. He conveyed appreciation for India’s leadership in natural disaster management and called for a regional framework for the purpose. President Ghani said Afghanistan hopes it will have a shared destiny and destination with India in Asia.

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