Departure Statement on Board by H.e. Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, the President of India on Her State Visits to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Cyprus

Good morning and a very warm welcome to all of you on board, as we embark on our journey to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Cyprus. A visit by the President of India to both these countries is taking place after nearly two decades. The purpose of my visit is to further enhance and consolidate the bonds of friendship. In this context, I am looking forward to discussions with my interlocutors both in London as well as in Nicosia.

My visit, at the invitation of Her Majesty the Queen, will be the first State Visit to the UK after the two countries decided to upgrade the relationship and became Strategic Partners in 2004. I will be in the United Kingdom from October 27 to 29. Apart from my interactions with Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal family which includes a meeting with the Prince of Wales on the British Asian Trust, I will also be meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Leader of Opposition and the leader of the Liberal Democrats. I am looking forward to the meeting organized at Westminster by the All Party Parliamentary Group on India. During the visit, I will address a business meeting organized by the UK India Business Council in which the Indian business delegation accompanying me will participate. I will attend a Banquet being hosted by the Lord Mayor of the City of London.

The United Kingdom has one of our largest Diasporas. The Indian community is doing extremely well and is making substantial contributions to the national life of the UK. Soon after my arrival in London, I will be meeting members of the Indian community at a reception hosted by the High Commissioner. Two prominent members of the Indian community Sir Ghulam Noon and Mr. Nathu Ram Puri, have procured Mahatma Gandhi's memorabilia at an auction. In a function at the Indian High Commission, these precious articles would be handed over to me to be brought back to India, where they belong.

India and the UK have strong historical and cultural ties and a shared commitment to the rule of law, pluralism and democracy. Our relationship with the UK has been evolving steadily. As I mentioned earlier, we have a Strategic Partnership with the UK since 2004. Bilateral trade and investment between the two countries has been increasing in a satisfactory manner. Our cooperation with the UK is across a broad spectrum and includes areas like Science and Technology, research, defence, IT, education, among others. In the field of education, the UK is working with us towards the establishment of a new IIT, Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research in Pune and one Central University.

In my interactions with the UK leadership, I look forward to an exchange of views on the broad political and strategic dimensions of our bilateral relationship. I will not only be discussing areas in which we already cooperate well, but will also seek greater cooperation and collaboration in other areas where opportunities exist like in the infrastructure sector, healthcare, green technology and renewable energy sectors. I will also have an exchange of views on regional and international issues that are of interest to our two countries.

During my visit, I would reiterate our wholehearted commitment to the further upgradation and diversification of our multidimensional relationship with the UK as well as to strengthening our Strategic Partnership.

On the day of my departure from London, I will be participating in a ceremony to launch the Queen's Baton Relay at the Buckingham Palace for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi next year.

After my visit to the United Kingdom, I look forward to my visit to Cyprus, a beautiful country. India and Cyprus are both ancient civilizations with rich cultural heritages and shared historical experiences. The close relations between our two countries are based on an understanding of each other's aspirations and concerns, which have found expression through support extended to each other on important issues.

Ever since the days of friendship between Pandit Nehru and Archbishop Makarios, regular high-level contacts between the two countries have been a feature of our special relationship. In Cyprus, I look forward to my meeting President Demetris Christofias to discuss ways in which our bilateral relations can be intensified, particularly though enhanced economic engagement in sectors like the knowledge industry, tourism, hydrocarbons and financial services, among others. Since Cyprus became a member of the European Union in 2004, coinciding with rapid economic development in India, opportunities for further strengthening our economic and commercial contacts have increased.

I will also be meeting the Archbishop of Cyprus, His Beatitude Chrysostomos II and the President of the House of Representatives, which is the Legislature of Cyprus.

Besides discussing bilateral and other issues with the leaders of Cyprus, I look forward to the opportunity of interacting with the business community of both India and Cyprus, in order to encourage them to explore the many opportunities for mutually beneficial projects and proposals. I will also be interacting with the Indian community living in Cyprus. They are important contributors to the friendship that exists between the peoples of India and Cyprus.

We will return to India on 1st November. I wish you a comfortable flight and a good stay in both the countries, and hope that you do get some time to see some of the beautiful spots in the two countries as well as interact with the local population.