PM Modi, Netanyahu embrace at start of India trip

New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived here on Sunday to a warm hug from his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to kickstart a six-day visit that will also take him to Mumbai and Gujarat.

A smiling Modi embraced Netanyahu and then shook hands both with him and his wife as they stepped on the red carpet at the airport here.

This is the first visit to India by an Israeli Prime Minister since Ariel Sharon came in 2003.

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"A special welcome for a special visit... Modi personally receives Israeli PM at Delhi Airport," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted.

Netanyahu and Modi are expected to discuss a variety of subjects related to bilateral relations and the global situation.

The Israeli leader, accompanied by dozens of Israeli businessmen, will visit the Centre of Excellence in Agriculture at Vadrad in Gujarat and interact with business leaders in Mumbai.

IANS