President Mukherjee returns from two-nation visit

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee has returned to New Delhi after his two-nation tour to Sweden and Belarus.

President Mukherjee's aircraft reached New Delhi on Thursday evening.

President Pranab Mukherjee has said that his visit reflected the renewed emphasis that New Delhi places on enhancing partnership with Sweden and Belarus and added that both countries have been supportive of India's claim for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council.

President Mukherjee said that India and Sweden have shared multi-faceted and mutually beneficial relations over several decades. He said that Belarus is India's key partner in the wider Eurasian region with many strengths.

"My visits to Sweden and Belarus were first visits ever by an Indian President to either country. They reflect the renewed emphasis that India places on further enhancing our partnership with these two countries. Both countries have been supportive of India's claim for permanent membership of the UN Security Council. I took the opportunity to brief both leaderships on the economic situation in India as well as about policy initiatives of the government," President Mukherjee said in a statement after the conclusion of his visit to Sweden and Belarus.

This was the first visit of any Indian President to Sweden and Belarus.