Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is on a five-day visit to India arrived in New Delhi last night.
However, in a move away from tradition, the VIP guest chose not to be driven to his hotel in an official entourage, but rather hired a chartered bus for himself, his wife Ho Ching and a delegation comprising key ministers, Members of Parliament and senior officials.
Lee's delegation includes, among others, Minister of Trade and Industry S. Iswaran, Acting Minister of Education (High Education and Skills) and Senior Minister of State for Defence Ong Ye Kung, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs Mohamed Maliki Bin Osman and Members of Parliament Denise Phua and Vikram Nair.
Prime Minister Loong was received by Minister of State (Independent Charge) Statistics and Programme Implementation, Planning and Defence Rao Inderjit Singh upon his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.
The PM is on an official visit to the country, and will hold bilateral talks with PM Modi after which he is expected sign and exchange three memorandums of understanding (MOU).
At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong will pay an official visit to India on 3-7 October.External Affairs Ministry said in a statement
Lee, will also call on President Pranab Mukherjee while External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will call on the visiting dignitary.
Lee will also visit Udaipur on 5-6 October.
Lee's visit comes following Modi's visit to Singapore in November last year after he attended the India-Asean and East Asia summits in Kuala Lumpur.
(With ANI and IANS inputs)
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