After his arrival here, Mr Modi started formal engagements with a visit to Arlington Cemetery where he paid homage to the unknown martyred soldiers, thus becoming the third Indian Prime Minister to visit the memorial after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
Advertisement
Qatar on Tuesday released 23 Indian prisoners, in a special gesture just after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“India and Switzerland also share a commitment to reform worldwide institutions in line with current global realities”, Modi said at a joint press statement with Schneider-Amman after the talks.
But the ban was lifted after Modi was sworn into office in May 2014 and he has since made four USA visits – two to Washington – while Obama has twice travelled to India.
India’s burgeoning clean energy sector could also benefit from US$440 million of investment under two new initiatives aimed at providing one million households with power by 2020.
Modi said that the US and India have been cooperating on issues of global concern, including nuclear security, climate change and terrorism.
On Wednesday, Modi will address a joint session of Congress and lay out his vision for the relationship between the two nations. He left Switzerland for Washington, where U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to offer his backing also.
These barriers are holding back the United States’ and India’s trade and broader commercial relationships.
He then expressed “gratitude to the US government for the sensitivity shown to India’s heritage”, adding: “This will evoke great respect among the people of India”.
Earlier, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at joint Andrews Airbase in Washington DC where he was received by the Indian ambassador to US Arun Kumar Singh amid loud cheers and jubilation.
There is hope that India will soon sign a logistics sharing agreement that would allow the US and India to access each other’s military supplies and refueling capabilities through ports and military bases.
Later, Modi also interacted with a group of Indian students and scientists from CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research that operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world.
“It’s kind of a reverse colonialism that India suffers from”, said Mukhopadhyay.
Defence expert PK Sehgal on Monday dubbed India’s desire to become a member of the NSG as “critically vital”, saying the membership will enhance the supply of latest and advanced machinery to the nation.
Obama underlined that India needs technology which is critical for its progress and prosperity.
“More than 200 antiquities and cultural artifacts that speak to India’s astounding history and attractive culture are beginning their journey home”. He said that we will continue to work together in the future too.
Advertisement
“Modi wants to get as much as he can out of Obama’s last months in office”, said Ashley J Tellis, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
