Regional issues, particularly the political turmoil in Myanmar, are expected to top the agenda for dicussions between the Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when they meet on Friday.
Being the first visit by a Philippine president in over 10 years, Arroyo will arrive in New Delhi leading a high-level delegation on Thursday night after addressing Corporate India in Mumbai. All her major official engagements, including talks with President Pratibha Patil, Singh and meetings with external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee, among others, are slated for Friday.
In her talks with Singh, Arroyo is likely to ask him to take a stronger stand on the Myanmar crisis where over 10 pro-democracy protestors have been killed by government forces.
After a couple of official statements calling for broad-based and inclusive political reforms and national reconciliation in Myanmar, New Delhi earlier this week urged the Junta to order a probe into the uses of violence to quell pro-democracy protesters.
Although the visit of the Philippines President to India comes amid mounting global outrage over atrocities in Myanmar, the trip was initially meant to promote business agreement with India. Both countries will sign an agreement that will enable visa free travel for the holders of diplomatic and official passports.