German President visits New Delhi's grand old mosque

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, accompanied by his wife Elke Buedenbender, visited the historic Jama Masjid in New Delhi on Friday (March 23).

Steinmeier is on a four-day visit to India, his first to the country. The German President and his wife were given a guided tour of the 17th-century red sandstone monument built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

Steinmeier began his India tour on Thursday (March 22) with a trip to the northern ancient city of Varanasi where he witnessed the famous 'Ganga Aarti', grand prayers performed on the banks of holy river Ganges. He is accompanied by a delegation which includes media persons, business leaders and Indologists on his visit.

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The German President's visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties with India. Steinmeier will address students at Delhi University and attend a business roundtable later on Friday. Germany is India's largest trading partner in Europe and the seventh largest foreign direct investor in the South Asian country.