Visiting Dutch Queen Beatrix meets Indian leaders

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, who is on a four-day visit to India, met top leaders here today and discussed with them ways to strengthen bilateral ties, particularly in the sectors of trade and economy.

New Delhi, Oct 24 : Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, who is on a four-day visit to India, met top leaders here today and discussed with them ways to strengthen bilateral ties, particularly in the sectors of trade and economy.

The Queen, on her first such visit in 21 years, met with Vice President Hamid Ansari, and Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma.

She also met with senior leader of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party L K Advani.

Earlier today, Queen Beatrix was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

She met with President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The bilateral trade between the two countries amounts to nearly 2.28 billion dollars and business houses in both countries are looking at doubling this in the next five years.

Queen Beatrix is accompanied by Prince of Orange William-Alexander, his spouse Princess Maxima, Netherlands Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen, besides a high-level business delegation of top company executives.

The visit is important for India since it will give the nation's leadership the opportunity to brief the Dutch about the Indo-US nuclear deal.

India is expecting the Netherlands' support as a Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) member.

The Queen's last state visit to India was in 1986, but she spent her millennium-eve holidays in Rajasthan with her family on a private visit.

ANI