President Halonen visited India

President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi on Monday 22 January. The President and the Prime Minister discussed a range of bilateral issues between Finland and India, including trade and air traffic. Finnair announced on Monday that the number of weekly flights to India will increase from the current three to 12. Flights to Delhi will be increased to daily and Finnair will also launch direct flights to Mumbai. Prime Minister Singh expressed his satisfaction over the increases in air traffic between Finland and India. Other topics of the discussion included international issues, such as the current state of the WTO negotiations, environment and the post-Kyoto Protocol era.

President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen laid a wreath at the Mahatma Gandhi's memorial. Copyright © The Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

The meeting between President Halonen and President of India A.P.J Abdul Kalam focused on the issues relating to education and welfare, sustainable development and the increasing economic co-operation between Finland and India.

President Halonen also met in Delhi the Leader of the Indian Congress Party, Sonia Gandhi, and the opposition leader, Lal Krishna Advani.

Focus on Sustainable Development and Economic Relations

President Halonen attended the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, DSDS, during her four-day working visit to India. In her speech at the opening of the Summit, President Halonen discussed the Kyoto Protocol and the connections between sustainable development and globalization.

President Halonen was accompanied by Minister of Trade and Industry, Mauri Pekkarinen, and a business delegation. During the visit, a conference on the economic relations between Finland and India, the Finland-India CEO Round Table, was held. This conference was attended by India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry, Kamal Nath. The business representatives were also pleased with the increase of direct flights and economic co-operation.

President Halonen and Dr Pentti Arajärvi began the working visit by visiting Delhi. During the weekend, President Halonen and Dr Arajärvi paid a visit to the Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum and the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple. On Saturday, the presidential couple laid a wreath at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial.

From Delhi, President Halonen will fly to Davos in Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum WEF. She will return to Finland on January 27.