Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 16 reached Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, the first bilateral visit by an Indian premier to the Nordic nation in 30 years.

PM Modi was received at the airport by his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven. PM Modi is on the first leg of his five-day foreign tour which will also take him to the UK where he will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

This is the first prime ministerial visit from India to Sweden in 30 years after the visit of Rajiv Gandhi in 1988.

After arriving in Stockholm, PM Modi took to Twitter and thanked the Swedish PM for warm welcome.

He tweeted, “Landed in Stockholm. I thank Prime Minister Stefan Löfven for the warm welcome at the airport.”

Landed in Stockholm. I thank Prime Minister Stefan Löfven for the warm welcome at the airport. @SwedishPM pic.twitter.com/nJuqebdiOr

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 16, 2018

Modi and Lofven also travelled together in the same vehicle from the airport to the hotel.

Earlier, ahead of his visit, Modi said in New Delhi he was looking forward to deepening bilateral engagement with both countries in a number of areas including trade, investment and clean energy.

“India and Sweden share warm and friendly ties. Our partnership is based on democratic values and commitment to an open, inclusive and rules-based global order. Sweden is a valuable partner in our development initiatives,” Modi had said in a departure statement.

The two prime ministers will hold bilateral talks on Tuesday.

The prime minister said he would also call on King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf.

India and Sweden will also jointly organise the India-Nordic Summit in Stockholm tomorrow. The summit will also be attended by the prime ministers of Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.

PM Modi will hold separate bilateral meetings with the leaders of the other four Nordic countries on the sidelines of the summit.

From Sweden, Modi will later travel to the UK where he will also attend the CHOGM, besides holding bilateral talks with his British counterpart Theresa May.

On April 19-20, the prime minister will attend this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London.

(With agencies inputs)