'PM visit reflects Obama's high priority to Indo-US ties'

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Nov 14 (PTI) The state visit of Prime
Minister of India Manmohan Singh to Washington later this
month reflects Barack Obama's personal respect for him and the
"high priority" the President attaches to the Indo-US
relationship, a top administration official said on Saturday.

Elaborate arrangements are being made by the White House
to accord a grand welcome to the Prime Minister.
The first state visit of the Obama Administration, US
officials say, is an indication of the importance attached to
the US-India ties by the President.
Though the state dinner is scheduled for November 24, as
was announced by the White House in early October, Singh is
expected to arrive here a few days early to kick off his
meetings in the US -- with the influential business community
and the think-tanks -- as part of the government's efforts to
build on the people-to-people relationship.
"Under Secretary (of State for Political Affairs Bill)
Burns visited India last month. The main purpose of his trip
was to help prepare for Prime Minister Singh's state visit to
Washington this month, which is the first state visit to the
White House in the Obama Administration," State Department
spokesman Ian Kelly told PTI.
"As Undersecretary Burns said, this is not only a
reflection of the President's personal respect for Prime
Minister Singh, but also of the high priority that the
administration attaches to our growing partnership with
India," he said. (More) PTI LKJ
SDE


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