President Obama welcomes PM at the White House

Prime minister Manmohan Singh was today given a rousing welcome at the White House where he was received by president Barack Obama before they sat down for bilateral talks during which the two countries are expected to take their strategic ties to a new level.

Obama and First Lady Michelle personally welcomed Singh, the first State guest of the Obama administration, and his wife Gursharan Kaur at the White House. The elaborate ceremonial welcome, which was planned at the White House lawns, had to be shifted to the sprawling mansion due to the rains.

National Anthems of both India and the US were also played during the ceremony. Singh's visit is the first state visit hosted by the administration, the highest honor extended to a foreign dignitary, and the two would discuss a wide range of bilateral issues and the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan during their one-on-one meeting.

Though the two leaders met in April on sidelines of the G-20 Summit in London and briefly at Pittsburgh's G-20 Summit, this would be for the first time they would discuss bilateral issues and possibilities of cooperation on key global issues like climate change.

The two leaders are understood to have exchanged views on a range of issues, including terrorism, situation in the region, climate change, economic and business ties, agriculture and education. This is Singh's second  State Visit to the US; he has also met with former President George W Bush in 2005.

The prime minister is also expected to have registered India's concerns over diversion of US aid by Pakistan and press for ensuring accountability to prevent misuse of funds and equipment.

After the meeting and discussions between the delegations of two countries, Singh and Obama will jointly address a press conference and issue a joint statement reflecting the strengthening of the relationship between the two countries.

The two countries will sign a number of pacts, including an MoU on Counter-Terrorism to provide a legal framework for stepped up cooperation against the menace, and discuss the problem of climate change ahead of the Copenhagen Summit.

The prime minister has indicated that he would seek a "more liberal" US technology transfer to India and an early implementation of the Indo-US nuclear deal. The most anticipated part of the entire trip however has been the State Dinner, when Obama and Michell host the first black-tie dinner for the prime minister.

An invitation to the dinner is believed to be the hottest ticket in Washington this week. While no official list has been announced so far, media reports say that some 400 people have been invited to the dinner, which would have the President and the First Lady's personal touch, including on the menu and entertainment.
 
Grammy- and Oscar-award-winning singer and actress Jennifer Hudson will entertain the black-tie crowd, sources said.