New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived here early Friday morning on a two-day state visit during which he will talk business, watch the Republic Day parade and also go on a flying visit to the Taj Mahal.
Sarkozy stepped into Delhi from a special aircraft at Air Force Station at about 7 a.m., escorted by senior ministers of his cabinet, over 60 chief executives of French multinational companies and a media delegation.
His official engagements start with a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan forecourt, from where he will drive to the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi to lay a wreath. Sarkozy will return to the Hotel Oberoi, where he is staying, for a meeting with the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh then awaits him for their appointment at Hyderabad House at 11 a.m. After one-on-one talks, the delegation level discussions will take place and ends with a press interaction, where a Joint Statement will be released and bilateral agreements signed.
The prime minister then hosts a lunch in his honour, after which Sarkozy returns to his hotel for meetings with Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition L K Advani. He addresses an Indo-French business conference in the evening and then goes for dinner at the state banquet hosted by President Pratibha Patil.
Saturday morning will mark his outing on Rajpath, as he attends the Republic Day parade as the Guest of Honour. Afterwards, he will fly to Agra to have a glimpse of the Taj Mahal.
Sarkozy returns to Delhi to attend the Republic Day tea hosted by the president at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Thereafter, he is likely to meet with the French community in Delhi and have some private engagements, which have not been officially announced.
Sarkozy departs for Paris by a special flight at ten in the night.