THE PRESIDENTIAL YEARS 2012-2017 - Pranab Mukherjee

Greeting King Abdullah II at the Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman, Jordan, in 2015.

After the wreath-laying ceremony at the Victory Monument at the Victory Square in Minsk, Belarus, in 2015.

In conversation with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and President Reuven Rivlin at a state dinner during my historic visit to Israel in 2015.

Discussing the future of India’s relations with the State of Palestine, with President Mahmoud Abbas, at the presidential palace in 2015.

Inspecting a guard of honour with President Xi Jinping during the ceremonial welcome at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, in 2016.

Receiving the traditional dress material of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) from Robert Beugré Mambé (to my left), Governor of Abidjan, during a presentation ceremony in Abidjan in 2016.

Witnessing a cultural performance during the ceremonial reception at the State House of the Republic of Namibia in 2016. Also seen is Namibian president, Hage Geingob (to my left).

Delighted at a performance by tribal artists at a banquet hosted by the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, Sir Michael Ogio, in the capital city of Port Moresby in 2016.

Being welcomed in traditional Maori style by Gregory Baughen, official secretary to the Governor General of New Zealand at Government House, Auckland, in 2016.

Reaffirming the vision for a strong and stable Afghanistan: With President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, at a banquet in his honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2012. Also seen are UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi (centre); Minister of External Affairs, Salman Khurshid (right of Karzai); and Congress General Secretary, Rahul Gandhi (next to me).

With the heads of state/government at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2012. Also seen are PM Manmohan Singh (second from my left) and Vice President M. Hamid Ansari (second from my right).

PM Manmohan Singh and I welcome Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan, in 2012.

Welcoming the President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, to Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2012.

In an animated conversation with King Juan Carlos I of Spain at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2012.

Greeting the First Lady of Burundi, Denise Bucumi Nkurunziza, as her husband, President Pierre Nkurunziza, looks on, during their state visit to India in 2012.

The Morsy Code: Greeting Mohamed Morsy, Egypt’s first democratically elected president, during his state visit to India in 2013.

With the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, in 2016.

At the ceremonial banquet in honour of President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2013.

Presenting a gift to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan, during their visit to India in 2013. This was the first time that an emperor and empress of Japan visited our country.

Son of the soil: PM Manmohan Singh (right) and I with the President of Mauritius, Rajkeswur Purryag, in 2013. It was an emotional homecoming for President Purryag who visited his ancestral village in Patna, Bihar.

King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, greets my wife, Suvra, at the lawns of the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2013. Also seen is Vice President, M. Hamid Ansari (in the back; left).

King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, listens intently to my words of advice during his visit to India in 2014. His wife and Queen of Bhutan, Jetsun Pema, looks on.

Neighbourhood first: Welcoming the President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, during his visit to India in 2014 to attend the swearing-in of PM Narendra Modi in May that year.

Presenting a book to Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, in 2014, as he looks on.

Meeting the President of South Korea, Park Geun-hye, as she arrives for a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan during her state visit in 2014.

Strengthening India’s ties with the Kingdom of Bahrain during the visit of the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, in 2014.

With the President of the Maldives, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, as he speaks to the media in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan during his visit in 2014.

In conversation with Joachim Gauck, President of Germany, during the ceremonial banquet in Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2014.

A new chapter in Indo-US relations: With President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2015.

A warm welcome awaits Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan, on a state visit to India in 2015.

PM Narendra Modi and I with President James Alix Michel of the Seychelles at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2015.

President of Singapore, Tony Tan Keng Yam, and his wife, Mary Chee Bee Kiang, are enthralled by the majesty of the Rashtrapati Bhavan during their visit to India in 2015.

In the middle of an intense discussion with the President of France, Francois Hollande, the chief guest of our Republic Day celebrations in 2016.

Sharing a light moment with the President of Kyrgyzstan, Almazbek Atambayev, in 2016. First Lady Raisa Atambayeva is seen behind him, smiling.

Hosting the President of Myanmar, Htin Kyaw, and his wife, Daw Su Su Lwin, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2016. Also seen are PM Narendra Modi (right); External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj (behind me; left); and former PM Manmohan Singh (behind me).

Taking the salute at the guard of honour ceremony for the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in 2016.

Reliving the age-old connection of history, culture, tradition and religion with the President of Nepal, Bidya Devi Bhandari, in 2017.

A new high in a historic relationship: With the President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2017.

Presenting a souvenir to the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, on his state visit to India in 2017.

On a solid pitch: The PM of Australia, Julia Gillard, on a visit to New Delhi in 2012.

A dynamic relationship rooted in deep people-to-people ties: The PM of Canada, Stephen Harper, on a visit to India in 2012.

Meeting the PM of Bhutan, Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay, and his spouse, Aum Tashi Doma, in 2013, on their first overseas visit after the PM’s election.

With the PM of Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki, in 2013.

With the PM of Hungary, Viktor Orban, in 2013.

Presenting a coffee table book to UK PM David Cameron at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2013.

Showcasing our cultural diversity: Welcoming Charles, Prince of Wales, and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in 2013.

Creating history: Meeting the PM of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, in 2014. His attendance at PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony was a first in the history of the two countries.

Welcoming a deeply valued friend: With the PM of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and his spouse, (Prof.) Maithree Wickramasinghe, in 2015.

Greeting UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, in 2015, who described India as having ‘a very special place in his heart’.

Partnership for prosperity: Meeting the PM of Japan, Shinzo Abe, in 2015.