Washington: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet US President Barack Obama at the White House today where the latter will host a private dinner in honour of the visiting dignitary.
First lady Michelle Obama will also be present at the dinner where Modi will not be eating anything because of his ongoing nine-day Navratri fast. He will consume only water or lemon water.
The dinner hosted by Obama would be held in Blue Room of the White House. The Blue Room is used for receptions and receiving lines and is occasionally set for small dinners.
The President would be joined by the Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and National Security Advisor Susan Rice among others for the dinner.
Modi would be accompanied by the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Indian Ambassador to the US S Jaishankar among others.
Obama is hosting this rare dinner for the Prime Minister as a mark of respect of the visiting dignitaries and also to acquaint and establish a personal rapport with Modi.
On Tuesday, the two leaders would discuss a range of issues of mutual interest, including ways to accelerate economic growth and bolster security cooperation to expand and deepen the India-US strategic partnership when they meet here.
"They will also focus on regional issues, including current developments in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, where India and the United States can work together with partners towards a positive outcome," the White House said in a statement.
“The President looks forward to working with the Prime Minister to fulfill the promise of the India-US strategic partnership for the benefit of both our citizens and the world," it added.
Before heading to White House tomorrow, Modi would visit the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial and Gandhi status in front of the Indian Embassy, where the Indian-American community is expected to be present in large numbers.
The local Indian-American community has decided to celebrate the Modi-Obama meeting with a cultural programme in front of the White House tomorrow.
As Obama hosts Modi for dinner, the local Indian-American community would organise ‘Dandiya Raas' and ‘Garbha' with live music outside the White House to welcome the Prime Minister to America's national capital and for his maiden meeting with the US President.
