After showing strength in New York, Narendra Modi meets Obama over dinner in White House
Washington DC: After a successful trip to the New York City, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Barack Obama over dinner at White House in Washington DC on Monday.
Obama is hosting a private dinner, which will be the first opportunity for both the leaders to interact.
The President, vice president, Joe Biden, secretary of State John Kerry and national security advisor Susan Rice among others were present for the dinner.
Modi landed at the Andrews Air Force Base. Holding placards reading 'We love Modi', the supporters gathered outside the air forces base shouting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Modi Modi'.
In Washington DC, Modi will be staying at the Blair House, the official state guest house of the US President.
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The two leaders will hold bilateral talks on Tuesday. The bilateral relations between India and the United States have developed into a global strategic partnership, based on increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues. Wide ranging dialogue architecture has enabled sustained momentum to bilateral cooperation and helped establish a long-term framework for India-US global strategic partnership.
The bilateral cooperation is now broad-based and multi-sectoral, covering trade and investment, defence and security, education, science and technology among other sectors.
Modi and Obama would discuss a range of issues of mutual interest, including ways to accelerate economic growth and bolster security cooperation to expand and deepen the US-India strategic partnership when they meet.
“They will also focus on regional issues, including current developments in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, where India and the United States can work together with partners towards a positive outcome,” the White House said.
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“The President looks forward to working with the PM to fulfil the promise of the US-India strategic partnership for the benefit of both our citizens and the world. They will discuss ways to accelerate economic growth, bolster security cooperation, and collaborate in activities that bring long-term benefits to both countries,” it said.
Modi was accompanied by the external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, national security advisor Ajit Doval and Indian ambassador to the US S. Jaishankar among others.
Before heading to White House on Tuesday, Modi would visit the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial and Gandhi statues in front of the Indian Embassy, where the Indian-American community is expected to be present in large numbers.
