Asuncion (Paraguay): In a first-ever visit by a vice-president from India, M Venkaiah Naidu's official tour to the Latin American countries of Paraguay and Costa Rica has started. Naidu arrived in Asuncion, the capital of Paraguay, on the night of March 5.
The vice-president's programmes in Ascuncion include talks with Mario Abdo Benitez, the president of Paraguay and Hugo Velazquez, the vice-president.
India's Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam is accompanying Naidu on the tour.
Naidu will also address the India-Paraguay business forum and interact with the Indian community in Paraguay. The vice-president's visit is intended to strengthen the ties between the two countries in the trade, energy, space, education and health sectors. India's exports to the Latin American country mainly comprise automobiles, plastic, iron and steel.
After his engagements in Paraguay, Naidu will head to Costa Rica, where he will spend two days – March 8 and 9. Among the events Naidu is scheduled to attend are a meeting with Costa Rican President Carlos Quesada and a speech at the Peace University under the United Nations. As part of the Indian dignitary's visit, a ‘Yoga’ chair will be set up at the university.
Naidu flies bypassing Pakistan
While flying to the Latin American countries, Naidu’s aircraft avoided the shortest route, which lies in the Pakistan airspace, in view of the tension existing with India's neighbour. Instead, the plane carrying Naidu and his delegation took off from Delhi and flew on the Mumbai-Dubai route to Madrid, the capital of Spain. Naidu, who spent Monday night at Madrid, reached Paraguay late on Tuesday.
