President begins his 14-day southern sojourn

President Pranab Mukherjee today arrived here for his 14-day southern sojourn upto December 31, at the Rashtrapati Nilayam.
Governor ESL Narasimhana and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao along with some of his ministerial colleagues and senior officials received the President at Hakimpet Air Force base.
During the sojourn, the President will attend the convocation of Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME), Secunderabad on December 19, an official release had said earlier.
The President would attend the second convocation of the Central University of Karnataka on December 22 at Gulbarga in Karntaka. On the same day, he will inaugurate the Magneto Encephalography Equipment and renovated heritage building of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru.

He will also dedicate NIMHANS to the nation as an institute of national importance.
On December 23, the President will attend the 150th anniversary of Bishop Cotton Boys' School and lay the foundation stone of the State Cancer Institute at the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru.

On December 25, the President will inaugurate the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam's Veda-Patasala at Ai Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh.
On December 27, Mukherjee would deliver the inaugural address at the Indian Economic Association's Annual Conference at Prof Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad.
On the same day, he will also attend the 'Purnahuthi' of 'Ayutha Chandi Maha Yagam' being organised by the Telangana Chief Minister at Erravelli village in Medak in Telangana for 'Lok Kalyanam' (universal prosperity) and 'Vishwa Shanthi' (universal peace).

ESL Narasimhan, Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will host a dinner in honour of the President on December 29.
The President will host a reception for senior dignitaries of the state, Ministers, officials and others at the Rashtrapati Nalayam, Secunderabad on December 30.
"I believe my visit to these countries has helped
reinvigorate our already strong and time-tested bilateral relations. They provide fresh momentum to our overall relations with Africa," Mukherjee said.
The President said India is committed to further consolidate its cooperation with all African countries.
These visits conveyed the message that India takes its engagement with Africa seriously and intends to follow up with determination on the announcements made at the Third India Africa Forum Summit, he said.

"Drawing lessons from our own colonial experience, we will continue to focus on capacity building, with a view to strengthening their self reliance.
"We will remain an active partner in Africa's nation building efforts even as we strengthen our political, economic and trade relations with all 54 countries of the continent," he said.
Mukherjee said warmth with which he was received in all these three countries is testament to the unparalleled and historic bonds of friendship that exist between India and Africa.
"We seek today to build on this strong foundation and forge new relations based on shared values of mutual benefit," he said.

The President said all three countries sought increased investments from India to tap the full potential of trade and economic relations.
"I assured them that both public and private sector companies in India are enthusiastic about the opportunities in their countries.
"I requested them to create a conducive environment for investment and initiate a dialogue with our industry," he said.