List of international presidential trips made by Pratibha Patil

This is a list of international presidential trips made by Pratibha Patil, the 12th President of India. Patil was elected as president and assumed the office for a five-year term on 25 July 2007 to succeed A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and served until 25 July 2012 and was succeeded by Pranab Mukherjee.

Summary of international trips

Further information: Foreign relations of India

In her five-year tenure as the President, Pratibha Patil made 13 international trips, visiting 24 countries. The first state visit was to Brazil between 12 and 16 April 2008, followed by Mexico and Chile. South Africa was the final country to be visited by her during her presidency.

Map of international trips made by Pratibha Patil as President

President Pratibha Patil's visits by country

Number of visits	Country
1 visit (24)	Austria, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, China, Cyprus, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, Mauritius, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Seychelles, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom

2008

	Country	Areas visited	Date(s)	Details	Images
1	Brazil	São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília	12–16 April [1]	Maiden state visit upon assumption of presidency in July 2007. Addressed the National Congress and met with Chamber of Deputies President Arlindo Chinaglia and Supreme Court President Ellen Gracie Northfleet. Welcomed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at Palácio do Planalto and accorded ceremonial reception. Held bilateral talks with President Lula and witnessed signing of documents.
	Mexico	Mexico City, Guadalajara	17–19 April	Visited National Hero's Memorial and addressed Indian community. Welcomed by President Felipe Calderón and held bilateral and delegation-level talks with him and addressed joint press statement. Met with Supreme Court President Guillermo Iberio Ortiz Mayagoitia, addressed India-Mexico Chamber of Commerce meeting. Also met with Jalisco Governor Emilio González Márquez.
	Chile	Santiago	20–25 April [2]	Received by President Michelle Bachelet and accorded ceremonial guard of honour at Palacio de La Moneda. Held delegation-level talks with President Bachelet and witnessed signing of documents. Met with Santiago Mayor Raul Alcaino Lin and received Key of the city and citation from him. Conferred honorary doctorate from University of Chile Rector Victor Peres Vera.
2	Bhutan	Paro	5–8 November [3]	Attended coronation of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Welcomed by 4th King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and met with Prime Minister Jigme Thinley. Attended ceremonial coronation rituals at Tashichho Dzong and mass gathering at Changlimithang Stadium. Also attended royal banquet hosted by the King of Bhutan.
3	Vietnam	Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi	24–27 November [4]	Met with Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee chairman Le Hoang Quan and attended banquet hosted by him. Addressed FICCI business delegation meeting. Welcomed by President Nguyễn Minh Triết at Presidential Palace and held bilateral talks with him and witnessed signing of documents and MOUs. Met with Communist Party General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh and Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng. Also visited Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
	Indonesia	Bali, Jakarta	28 November– 1 December	Visited Pura Taman Ayun temple in Bali. Received and met with Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda. Welcomed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at Merdeka Palace and accorded guard of honour. Held bilateral talks with him and witnessed signing various documents and pacts.

2009

	Country	Areas visited	Date(s)	Details	Images
4	Spain	Madrid	20–23 April [5] [6]	First-ever visit by an Indian President. Welcomed by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía at El Pardo Royal Palace and witnessed ceremonial guard of honour. Addressed special joint sitting of the Cortes Generales and visited the Monumento a los Caídos por España. Received gold key to the city from Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón and state banquet hosted in her honour by the King. Met with Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and addressed India-Spain business meeting.
	Poland	Warsaw, Kraków	23–27 April [5]	Welcomed by President Lech Kaczyński and accorded ceremonial reception and delivered press statement. Met with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Marshal of Sejm Bronisław Komorowski. Also visited Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and attended state banquet hosted by the President. Visited Jagiellonian University and Birkenau concentration camp.
5	Russia	Moscow, Saint Petersburg	2–5 September [7] [8]	Visited Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and laid ceremonial wreath. Met with President Dmitry Medvedev, held delegation-level talks and attended banquet hosted by the president. Addressed gala concert on occasion of "Year of India in Russia" at Bolshoi Theatre. Also met with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Chairman of Federation Council Sergey Mironov, Chairman of State Duma Boris Gryzlov, Saint Petersburg Deputy Governor Alexander Vakhmistrov and Presidential Envoy for Northwestern Federal District Ilya Klebanov.
	Tajikistan	Dushanbe	6–8 September [8]	Welcomed by President Emomali Rahmon at Palace of the Nation and accorded ceremonial guard of honour. Held delegation level talks with President Rahmon and addressed India-Tajikistan business meeting. Visited Dousti Square and also attended state banquet hosted by the president. Met with Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov and Defence Minister Sherali Khayrulloyev. Also addressed special function of 19th Independence Day celebration of Tajikistan and visited Hamadani Mausoleum.
6	United Kingdom	London	26–29 October [9]	State visit. Welcomed by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle and visited royal exhibition and attended state banquet hosted by the Queen. Addressed joint session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom Attended reception hosted by Lord Mayor Ian Luder at Guildhall and met Prime Minister Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street and Charles, Prince of Wales at Clarence House. Attended launch of Queen's Baton Relay for XIX Commonwealth Games and received the baton from the Queen.
	Cyprus	Larnaca, Nicosia	30 October– 1 November [10]	Welcomed by President Demetris Christofias at Presidential Palace and accorded guard of honour. Met and held delegation-level talks with the President. Also met with President of the House of Representatives Marios Garoyian and Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus. Attended state banquet hosted by the President.

2010

	Country	Areas visited	Date(s)	Details	Images
7	China	Beijing, Luoyang, Shanghai	26–31 May [11]	Received by President Hu Jintao at Great Hall of the People and participated in delegation-level talks with the President. Met with Premier of the State Council Wen Jiabao and Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Jia Qinglin. Visited the Temple of Heaven and Forbidden City. Addressed special event commemorating 60th anniversary of India-China Diplomatic Relations along with Vice President Xi Jinping. Also met with Henan Governor Guo Gengmao and Party Secretary for Shanghai Yu Zhengsheng.
8	Laos	Vientaine, Luang Prabang	9–13 September [12]	Welcomed by President Choummaly Sayasone at Presidential Palace and accorded ceremonial guard of honour. Participated in bilateral and delegation-level talks with the President and witnessed signing of documents. Met Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh and National Assembly President Thongsing Thammavong and attended state banquet hosted by the President. Also met Luang Prabang Governor Bouheuang Doungphachanh and attended banquet hosted by the Governor.
	Cambodia	Phnom Penh, Siem Reap	13–18 September [12] [13]	Received and welcomed by King Norodom Sihamoni at Royal Palace and held bilateral meeting with him and attended state banquet hosted by the King. Met with Prime Minister Hun Sen, Senate President Chea Sim and National Assembly President Heng Samrin. Visited Angkor Wat temple and Banteay Srei temple and laid foundation stone of the MGC Asian Traditional Textiles Museum.
9	United Arab Emirates	Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah	21–25 November [14]	Welcomed by President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Al-Mushrif Palace and held bilateral talks with the President. Addressed the Abu Dhabi Indian School and Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce. Met with Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Deputy Prime Minister Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Also met with Ruler of Sharjah Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi.
	Syria	Damascus, Aleppo	26–30 November [15]	Welcomed by President Bashar al-Assad at Presidential Palace and accorded ceremonial guard of honour. Participated in delegation-level talks with the President and attended state banquet hosted in her honour. Visited Umayyad Mosque and met with Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Otari, Speaker of Parliament Mahmoud al-Abrash and Minister of Trade and Economy Lamia Assi. Addressed India-Syria Business Summit and interacted with leaders of Missionaries of Charity in Damascus. Also met with Aleppo Governor Ali Ahmed Mansoura.

2011

	Country	Areas visited	Date(s)	Details	Images
10	Mauritius	Port Louis	24–28 April [16]	Received by Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and held talks at Clarisse House. Met with President Sir Anerood Jugnauth and Lady Sarojini Jugnauth at State House. Visited samadhi of Father of the Nation Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and Aapravasi Ghat. Met with Leader of the Opposition Paul Berenger and Chief Justice Y. K. J. Yeung Sik Yuen. Attended state banquet hosted by the prime minister and also addressed special session of the National Assembly. Inaugurated bust of Indira Gandhi and special postal covers at Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture and offered puja at Mangal Mahadev.
11	South Korea	Seoul	24–27 July [17]	Welcomed by President Lee Myung-bak at Blue House and held delegation-level talks with the president and attended state banquet hosted in her honour. Addressed Indo-Korean Business Meeting and Indian community reception. Also met with National Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae.
	Mongolia	Ulaanbaatar	27–30 July [18]	Welcomed by President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and inspected ceremonial guard of honour Sükhbaatar Square. Held bilateral and delegation-level talks with the President and addressed joint press conference. Met with Education Minister Yo Otgonbayar during India-Mongolia Business Forum and visited Pethub Tangey Choskhorling Monastery.
12	Switzerland	Geneva, Bern	30 September– 4 October [19]	Visited CERN and interacted with Indian scientists and addressed Indian community reception. Welcomed by President Micheline Calmy-Rey at Federal Palace and participated in talks with her and made joint press statements. Addressed the Federal Assembly and attended state banquet hosted by the President.
	Austria	Vienna, Salzburg	4–7 October [19]	Welcomed by President Heinz Fischer at Hofburg Palace and inspected guard of honour. Later participated in bilateral and delegation-level talks with the President, addressed joint press conference and attended state banquet hosted by the President. Met with Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann and National Council President Barbara Prammer and visited the Austrian Parliament. Also met with Salzburg Governess Gabi Burgstaller and attended concert at Mozart's House.

2012

	Country	Areas visited	Date(s)	Details	Images
13	Seychelles	Mahé	29 April–1 May [20]	Received by President James Alix Michel and inspected guard of honour and held talks with the President at State House. Met with Vice President Danny Faure and held delegation-level talks. Addressed special session of the National Assembly and met with people of Indian origin in Seychelles. Also met Leader of Opposition David Pierre and interacted with naval personnels at SPDF Air Wing Hangar.
	South Africa	Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pietermaritzburg	1–8 May [20]	Final foreign visit. Welcomed by President Jacob Zuma for ceremonial reception at Union Buildings and accorded guard of honour. Held delegation level talks with the President and addressed joint press conference. Visited Freedom Park and unveiled bust of Mahatma Gandhi at Constitution Hill along with Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng. Met with Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and visited the National Assembly. Attended reception hosted by Pietermaritzburg Mayor Chris Ndlela.

See also

• Presidency of Pratibha Patil
• List of international presidential trips made by Ram Nath Kovind
• List of international presidential trips made by Droupadi Murmu
• List of international prime ministerial trips made by Manmohan Singh
• List of international trips made by Salman Khurshid as Minister of External Affairs of India
• History of Indian foreign relations

References

1. "President Patil on Latin America visit". India Today . 12 April 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
2. "President Pratibha Patil reaches Chile". The Economic Times . 21 April 2008.
3. "Patil to attend coronation of fifth Bhutan King". India Today . 4 November 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
4. "President Patil embarks on 10-day visit to Vietnam, Indonesia". India Today . 23 November 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
5. "President visits Spain, Poland to improve bilateral ties". India Today . 19 April 2009.
6. "State Visit to Spain of H.E. the President of the Republic of India". 20 April 2009.
7. "President of India Pratibha Patil will make a state visit to Russia on September 2–6, 2009". kremlin.ru. 26 August 2009.
8. "President leaves for visit to Russia, Tajikistan". The Indian Express . 2 September 2009.
9. "Royal welcome for the President". The Hindu . 28 October 2009.
10. "President Pratibha Patil to cement close ties with Cyprus". Deccan Herald . 28 October 2009.
11. "Pratibha Patil arrives in China". The Hindu . 26 May 2010.
12. "State Visit of President of India to Lao PDR and Cambodia". mea.gov.in. 7 September 2010.
13. "President Pratibha Patil arrives in Cambodia on six day state visit". Hindustan Times . 13 September 2010.
14. "Indian president arrives on first state visit to UAE". thenationalnews.com. 22 November 2010.
15. "Patil arrives in Damascus on four-day Syria visit". Hindustan Times . 27 November 2010.
16. "President's Mauritius visit begins today". The New Indian Express . 24 April 2011.
17. "Pratibha Patil in South Korea on three-day visit". The Hindu . 24 July 2011.
18. "President arrives in Mongolia on three-day visit". Oneindia . 27 July 2011.
19. "President Pratibha Patil leaves on 8-day visit to Switzerland, Austria". The Economic Times . 30 September 2011.
20. "President Pratibha Patil embarks on visit to Seychelles, South Africa". The Economic Times . 29 April 2012.