Indian President Pratibha Patil left Monday for Britain, where she will join Queen Elizabeth II to launch the Commonwealth Games torch relay ahead of the event in New Delhi next year. The Queen will hand the Commonwealth Games baton to Patil on Thursday before it travels through 70 countries and reaches the Indian capital when the games open on October 3.
Patil, the first Indian head of state to visit the country's former colonial ruler for almost 20 years, will also hold talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, officials said. Improving trade links and boosting British investment in India will be high on the agenda, they said.
"Apart from the growing trade and economic relations, India and Britain cooperate well in a number of areas including education, research, science and technology," foreign secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters last week. Patil, the first Indian woman to be elected to the ceremonial role, will visit Cyprus before returning home on October 31.