Modi – Obama meet for seventh time in two years

Washington – Indian PM Narendra Modi arrived at the White house here on Tuesday. Modi – Obama meet for a seventh time in two years.

Modi held wide -ranging bilateral talks with Obama. The talks are expected to cover issues like India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), inclusion in the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), climate change and bilateral investments and trade.

Modi is in the US accepting Obama’s invite. Obama who is in the last year of his Presidency is inviting world leaders with whom he shares a good “close and productive working relationship”.

Following the talks , Obama will host Narendra Modi for lunch.

Later in the day, Modi will attend a meeting of business leaders and then address the AGM of the US-India Business Council (USIBC).

After arriving here on Monday, Modi visited the Arlington National Cemetery and laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Space Shuttle Colombia Memorial.

The space shuttle Colombia disintegrated while re-entering earth’s atmosphere on Feb 1, 2003. All 7 astronauts on board were killed, among whom was Indian born, Kalpana Chawla. While laying wreath at the memorial, Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams was also present along with the family members of Kalpana Chawla.

Modi held a brief interaction with Kalpana Chawla’s family and Sunita williams during the visit.

The Tomb of the Unknowns is a monument dedicated to American service members who have died without their remains being identified.

He also attended a meeting of heads of US think tanks and a function at which some rare Indian artifacts were repatriated.

The highlight of Modi’s visit will be his address to a joint sitting of the US Congress on Wednesday.