A high-level delegation led by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, arrived on Tuesday in New Delhi on a three-day state visit.

Sheikh Mohamed is in the country as part of his visit to attend the 68th Republic Day celebrations of India as a chief guest, reported state news agency Wam.

He was received at the airport by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and a number of senior government officials.

The delegation included Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs and Dr Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, Khaldoun Khalifa Al Mubarak and other senior officials.  

Upon his arrival, Sheikh Mohammed said: ''I am very delighted to be in this great country for the second time in less than a year, and I would like to seize this opportunity to convey the best wishes of the people and government of the UAE to the Indian people and government on the occasion of 68th Republic Day."

"I thank the Indian people and their government for their warm welcome and I look forward to participating in Republic Day celebrations. I am filled with happiness as I share this historic occasion with Indian people, and I look forward to meeting India’s leadership, especially Prime Minister Modi," he noted.

Lauding the historic ties, Sheikh Mohammed said: "UAE-India relations enjoy a deep history that extends to hundreds of years before the founding of the UAE in 1971. The UAE founder late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan cemented this relationship when he made a historic visit to India in 1975, laying the founding stones of modern UAE-India relations."

"Today, the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, treats our relationship with India as a priority and views India as a linchpin of stability in Asia and a major partner in the global efforts towards stability, development and the battle against terrorism," said the Crown Prince.

"UAE-India relations transcend political and economic levels as the two nations have always enjoyed cultural ties which linked the Indian people and those of the GCC, especially the UAE, for centuries. The Indian community has contributed massively to the development of the UAE and continues to do so. We are deeply thankful for their contributions to our nation," he added.