New Delhi- (SANA)- President Bashar al-Assad and his Wife arrived in New Delhi on Monday afternoon on a state visit to the Republic of India.

An official delegation is accompanying President al-Assad to India .

The delegation includes Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, Minister of Expatriates Buthaina Sha'aban, Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Hosni Lutfi, Minister of Communications and Technology Emad Sabbouni and Assistant Foreign Minister Ahmad Arnous.

President al-Assad's first visit to India comes in the framework of pushing cooperation between the two friendly countries forwards and the Syrian move to build balanced relations with the affective countries in East Asia. 

Indian circles have welcomed the visit, stressing that it will open new horizons in the future of bilateral relations.

Indian State Minister for External Affairs E.Ahamed described President Bashar al-Assad as an important and pivotal figure, saying "India hopes that under the leadership of President al-Assad, stability and security will be consolidated in the Middle East."

"I expect there will be new chapter of relations between Syria and India following the imminent visit of President al-Assad to India on Tuesday," E.Ahamed said in a statement to reporters after meeting Minister of Expatriates Buthaina Sha'aban in New Delhi.

He underlined that India supports the Arab causes, adding "our country stood against the occupation of Iraq and against sending troops to this Arab state due to the strong relations connecting India with the Arab states."

"India also stands by the Palestinian cause and calls for the establishment of a Palestinian independent state as well as aspires for opening an Embassy for Palestine in the Indian capital," he added.

E.Ahamed stressed that Syria and India seek to preserve their culture and spiritual identity through finding the best means to face challenges of globalization in this changeable world.

He said that he met President al-Assad in Damascus in 2006 and attended the Arab summits since Algiers Summit and lately the Summit of Damascus.

For their part, Indian communist parties warmly welcomed the visit of President al-Assad to India, stressing its importance in boosting up the bilateral relations between the two countries and giving stronger momentum to a more influential role in the peace process and establishing stability in the Middle East.

Leader of the Parliamentary bloc and Head of the Foreign Department at the Indian Communist Party Sitaram Yatshuri said President al-Assad's visit to India would further strengthen political, economic and trade ties between the two countries and provide an opportunity to discuss issues of common interest.

Former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajbayee had visited Syria in 2003. Syrian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah al-Dardari and Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem visited India this year as part of mutual desire to widen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Mazen/ Ahmad Fathi ZAHRA