Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau arrives in New Delhi on eight-day trip to India

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau arrived at Air Force Station Palam in New Delhi on Saturday night on an eight-day visit at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. PTI

Trudeau arrived with his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and three children in New Delhi. The family gestured 'namaste' before getting off the plane. During the course of his stay in India, Trudeau will also visit Agra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Amritsar. PTI

The visit is aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries in key areas of mutual interest trade and investment, energy, science and innovation, higher education, infrastructure development, skill development and space, a ministry statement said. PTI

Trudeau and his family wave upon their arrival at AFS Palam, New Delhi. Cooperation in security and counter-terrorism as well as exchange of views on global and regional issues of mutual interest will also form important components of the visit. Reuters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral talks with Trudeau on 23 February following which a number of agreements are expected to be signed. Canada is also home to around 1.4 million people of Indian origin. Reuters

Trudeau's family before leaving for India on Friday. The trip comes nearly three years after Modi visited Canada in April 2015. The last visit of a Canadian prime minister to India was in November 2012. PTI