Obama coming to Mumbai tomorrow
Special Correspondent
After the India visit, Mr. Obama will leave for Indonesia. His next stop will be Seoul, where he will attend the G-20 summit. After this, he will emplane for Japan.
Mr. Obama will begin his India programme by paying homage to the victims of the 2008 terror attack in Mumbai, visit Mani Bhavan to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi and then attend a business summit organised by the U.S. India Business Council in association with FICCI and CII. The next day, he will address a ‘Town Hall' meeting and associated events at the St. Xavier's College and celebrate Diwali at a primary school.
He will leave Mumbai and come here on Sunday afternoon and his programme includes a brief visit to the Humayun's tomb. He will be the guest of honour at a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Visit to Raj Ghat
The official component of Mr. Obama's visit is on Monday, beginning with a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a visit to the Raj Ghat.
Ms. Rao said Dr. Singh and Mr. Obama would meet in the forenoon and discuss bilateral, regional and global developments of mutual concern. They would also discuss expansion of the strategic framework of the relations on the basis of “shared values and interests.''
At the talks with Mr. Obama, the Prime Minister will be assisted by Ministers for Finance, Agriculture, Defence, Home, External Affairs, Human Resource Development, Commerce and Industry, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, National Security Adviser, Ms. Rao and Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Meera Shankar.
Accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama, the U.S. President's delegation is likely to include National Security Adviser Tom Donillon, Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack, Administrator of USAID Rajiv Shah and others. A large business and media delegations are also accompanying the President.
The Foreign Secretary recalled that Dr. Singh visited the U.S. in November last year and was given the honour of the first State visit of the Obama administration. Mr. Obama's visit would reciprocate that visit and lend continuity to the bilateral engagement and high-level dialogue.
The last presidential visit to India from the U.S. was that of George Bush in 2006.
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Nov. 5, 2010