President Serzh Sargsyan received today the delegation led by the Vice-President of India, Chairperson of the Upper House of the Indian Parliament Mohammad Hamid Ansari.

The President welcomed the guests and expressed hope that the official visit of the Vice-President of India will give a new impetus to the centuries-long Armenian-Indian friendship. Speaking about the Armenian-Indian historical relations, President Sargsyan noted that Armenian communities existed in India back in 17-19 centuries and played an active role in India’s social, political, economic, and cultural life, including in Calcutta where Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari was born.

The parties concurred that the millennia-long Armenian-Indian relations constitute a solid base for the strengthening of the interstate ties and expansion of the cooperation agenda in different areas. President Serzh Sargsyan and Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari stressed the importance of high-level visits and active contacts on different levels, including between the legislative bodies of the two countries.

At the meeting, the Vice-President of India conveyed to President Sargsyan the message of the President of India Pranab Mukherjee with the invitation to conduct an official visit to India to discuss the agenda of the Armenian-Indian cooperation, opportunities and prospects for the deepening of the bilateral relations.

Besides the bilateral relations, the parties discussed also the situation in the region, existing challenges, the NK peace process, as well as pressing international issues.