Indian president in Poland on trade trip

Warsaw, April 24 (DPA) Indian President Pratibha Patil began a visit to Poland Friday to boost economic ties and anti-terrorism efforts between the two countries.

Patil met Polish President Lech Kaczynski and discussed economic cooperation amid growing Polish-Indian business and trade.

On the agenda were also relations with Afghanistan, Pakistan and China, reported the Polish Press Agency PAP.

Poland has some 1,600 troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led ISAF force, and is to increase its contingent there to 2,000 in the coming months.

'We're very happy that India is making efforts when it comes to helping Afghanistan, most of all helping in peace-keeping,' Kaczynski said. 'And also that they are trying to lead politics of peace towards their partners from China and Pakistan.'

Patil was later to meet with Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Parliament Speaker Bronislaw Komorowski and business representatives from India and Poland.

Patil was also to visit the southern city of Krakow and the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz.