New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS): Palestine has welcomed the upcoming visit of India's President Pranab Mukherjee to that country on October 12-13, and termed it "historic".

Mukherjee will pay the first ever state visit to Palestine at the invitation of Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas.

"The people and the leadership of Palestine welcome this historic visit of the president of India and his accompanying high-level delegation to the holy land as a guest and a close friend of Palestine," said an official statement from the Palestine embassy here.

"This visit comes within the excellent relation that exists among our countries and to strengthen and develop cooperation between us at all levels," the statement said.

"Palestine is looking forward to India's sincere efforts, all forms of support to enable us build our Palestinian independent state; and achievement of the just, comprehensive peace, security, and stability in the region on the principle of the two-state solution," the statement said.