After a grand Yoga Day event at the UN headquarters in New York on the second day of his US visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed at the Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday in Washington DC, where he is set to attend the state dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House.
Upon his landing, Modi was given a guard of honour amid incessant rains. Wearing a raincoat, the Prime Minister stood for the national anthem of the two countries played at the airbase. Meanwhile, members of the Indian diaspora were seen engaging in cultural programmes, including 'Garba' and other folk dances, outside Willard InterContinental Hotel in the capital where PM Modi will be staying.
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On the second day of his US visit, PM Modi has a series of engagements lined up in Washington. Then, US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will receive Prime Minister Modi at the White House where he will get a private engagement, hold bilateral talks at the Oval Office, followed by an intimate dinner.
Although not his first trip to the US, this is Prime Minister Modi’s first state visit – a formal visit by the head of state of one country to the head of state of another country. It is considered the highest expression of friendly bilateral ties between the two democracies.
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Modi and Biden have had the opportunity to meet several times since his last official visit to the US in September 2021. PM Modi said his discussions with President Biden and other senior US leaders this time will provide an opportunity to consolidate bilateral cooperation as well as in plurilateral forums such as G20, Quad and IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity).
What's on schedule?
According to the official schedule, he will attend a background briefing by Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu and then take part in a cultural event at Freedom Plaza.
PM Modi will also attend a 'Skilling for Future Event' at the National Science Foundation along with US First Lady Jill Biden where they would interact with Indian and American students, the White House said.
He will also address the much-awaited joint sitting of the US Congress, the second such address to a joint sitting and a rare honour for world leaders, at the invitation of US Congressional leaders. First Lady Jill Biden will then host a media preview of the state dinner scheduled for the next day.
On Thursday, PM Modi will attend curated business meetings with industry leaders, CEOs and other stakeholders. He will also be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the White House for which more than 8,000 invitations have been sent. Indian Americans from across the country are expected to attend the event, according to the White House communique.
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He will also be hosted at a luncheon by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Bilnken.
Later in the evening, the US president and the First Lady would host Modi for the State Dinner in the presence of more than 400 guests. A big tent is expected to be pitched on the South Lawns of the White House for the same.
