Obama to receive Manmohan Singh on first state visit

Lalit K Jha

Washington, Oct 3 (PTI) US President Barack Obama will
host Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the White House on
November 24 for the first official visit of his presidency,
the White House has said.

"This visit will be the first state visit of the
administration and will highlight the strong and growing
strategic partnership between the United States and India, and
the friendship between the American and Indian people," the
White House said in a statement Friday.

During the visit, the Obama and Singh are expected to
discuss a range of global, regional, and bilateral issues of
shared interest and common concern.

The two leaders will also likely discuss the strategic
dialogue that was launched in July during the visit of the
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to India and review
progress made in the dialogue.

Obama and the First Lady, Mitchelle, will also host
Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur for an official state dinner
on the night of November 24, it said.

"President Obama looks forward to welcoming Prime
Minister Singh to Washington and working with him to
strengthen and enhance their partnership for the benefit of
the people of both nations, and the world," the White House
said. PTI