Madrid - Indian President Pratibha Patil arrived Monday in Madrid for the first-ever official visit of an Indian head of state to Spain.

Patil was welcomed at Madrid airport by a delegation headed by Science and Innovation Minister Cristina Garmendia.

The four-day visit was described by diplomats as opening a new phase in political, economic and cultural relations between Spain and India.

Spain, which is not a member of the G20 group but participated in its recent meetings in Washington and London, was expected to seek G20 member India's support for its permanent integration into the forum.

Patil's official programme, which was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, includes meetings with King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, as well as visits to parliament and the Madrid city hall.

Patil, who was accompaned by Industrial Policy Minister Ashwani Kumar and a business delegation, will also meet Spanish entrepreneurs.

Diplomats described the visit as the first official one by an Indian head of state to Spain since the Asian country became independent from British rule in 1947.

On Thursday, Patil was scheduled to continue her European tour to Poland. (dpa)