<p class="title">Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian King Philippe met in New Delhi on Tuesday and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"India is delighted to welcome HM the King and HM the Queen of the Belgians," Modi posted on Twitter.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Belgium's royal couple, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, is currently on a visit to India on an invitation from President Ram Nath Kovind.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They were accorded a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"#PresidentKovind accorded a ceremonial welcome to Their Majesties the King and The Queen of the Belgians at Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning," tweeted Rashtrapati Bhavan. "First Lady Savita Kovind hosted Queen Mathilde for a conversation on bilateral relations over lunch at Rashtrapati Bhavan."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Prime Minister later hosted King Philippe at the Hyderabad House.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Held talks with HM the King of the Belgians. India cherishes the ties with Belgium & we look forward to diversifying bilateral cooperation," the PM tweeted.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India is at present Belgium's second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside European Union. The bilateral trade amounted to $13.28 billion in 2016-17. Exports from India to Belgium accounted for $5.65 billion, while imports from Belgium accounted for $6.62 billion.</p>.<p class="CrossHead">Diamond domination</p>.<p class="bodytext">Diamond trade overwhelmingly dominates Indo-Belgian commerce. Trade in gems and jewellery constitutes over 75% of the bilateral trade and diamonds make up more than 80% of Belgian exports and more than 40% Belgian imports from India. Belgian companies' cumulative investment in India is worth over US $1.01 billion for the period April 2000-June 2017.</p>.<p class="bodytext">External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also called on King Philippe.</p>
<p class="title">Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Belgian King Philippe met in New Delhi on Tuesday and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"India is delighted to welcome HM the King and HM the Queen of the Belgians," Modi posted on Twitter.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Belgium's royal couple, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, is currently on a visit to India on an invitation from President Ram Nath Kovind.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They were accorded a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"#PresidentKovind accorded a ceremonial welcome to Their Majesties the King and The Queen of the Belgians at Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning," tweeted Rashtrapati Bhavan. "First Lady Savita Kovind hosted Queen Mathilde for a conversation on bilateral relations over lunch at Rashtrapati Bhavan."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Prime Minister later hosted King Philippe at the Hyderabad House.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Held talks with HM the King of the Belgians. India cherishes the ties with Belgium & we look forward to diversifying bilateral cooperation," the PM tweeted.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India is at present Belgium's second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside European Union. The bilateral trade amounted to $13.28 billion in 2016-17. Exports from India to Belgium accounted for $5.65 billion, while imports from Belgium accounted for $6.62 billion.</p>.<p class="CrossHead">Diamond domination</p>.<p class="bodytext">Diamond trade overwhelmingly dominates Indo-Belgian commerce. Trade in gems and jewellery constitutes over 75% of the bilateral trade and diamonds make up more than 80% of Belgian exports and more than 40% Belgian imports from India. Belgian companies' cumulative investment in India is worth over US $1.01 billion for the period April 2000-June 2017.</p>.<p class="bodytext">External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also called on King Philippe.</p>
