MoS for external Affairs Preneet Kaur receives Iraq's PM Nouri Al-Maliki on his arrival in New Delhi
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki arrived in New Delhi today on a four-day state visit, the first high-level bilateral trip between the two countries in 38 years.
Mr Maliki is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes ministers, senior officials and captains of industry.
He was received by Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur at the Indira Gandhi International airport's ceremonial lounge.
Mr Maliki's trip will see India and Iraq sign an agreement on energy cooperation. Iraq is the second largest crude supplier to India, with oil imports standing at $20 billion.
On Friday, Mr Maliki will visit Mahatma Gandhi's memorial and then call on President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari.
In the afternoon, he will attend a business luncheon meeting hosted by the business houses of FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM.
In the evening, opposition leader Sushma Swaraj will call on him, after which he will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.