NEW DELHI/KATHMANDU: Nepal's President Bidya Devi Bhandari has expressed her belief that her ongoing state visit to India will help the two neighbouring countries further strengthen bilateral ties.

Talking briefly to the media corps after receiving a guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi today, President Bhandari  hoped for the peace and progress of Indian people.

Also present on the occasion were, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

President Bhandari, who arrived in the Indian capital yesterday, is scheduled to meet her Indian counterpart Pranab Mukharjee, Prime Minister Modi, India’s Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) and President Pranab Mukherjee wait for the arrival of Nepal's President Bidya Devi Bhandari at the Rastrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, India, on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Also, she is scheduled to attend a business event to be organised by three apex chambers of India — the Confederation of Indian Industries, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Associated Chambers of Commerce of India — and visit Yamuna Biodiversity Park in Delhi today itself.

The President is accompanied by Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Sita Devi Yadav, President’s Foreign Relations Expert Madan Kumar Bhattarai, Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and Chief of Protocol Deepak Adhikari.

It is President Bhandari’s first foreign visit since her election to the top post in October 2015.

SHe is President is scheduled to return home on Friday this week.