Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Washington, DC yesterday on an official three-day visit to the United States during which he will hold the first face-to-face meeting with President Joe Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris, attend the maiden in-person Quad summit and address the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Modi, on his seventh visit to the US after assuming office in 2014, said it would be an occasion to strengthen the Indo-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and consolidate ties with Japan and Australia.
"Landed in Washington DC. Over the next two days, will be meeting @POTUS @JoeBiden and @VP @KamalaHarris, Prime Ministers @ScottMorrisonMP and @sugawitter. Will attend the Quad meeting and would also interact with leading CEOs to highlight economic opportunities in India," Modi tweeted.
He was received at the airport by senior officials of the Biden Administration and India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
Modi was also warmly greeted by groups of Indian-Americans at the airport soon after his plane landed and later at the hotel where he had an interaction with the members of the community.
"Grateful to the Indian community in Washington DC for the warm welcome. Our diaspora is our strength. It is commendable how the Indian diaspora has distinguished itself across the world," the PM said.
"Exuberant members of the Indian diaspora welcoming PM @narendramodi upon landing in Washington DC," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted along with pictures of Modi interacting with Indian-Americans.
Modi has a packed agenda over the next three days. Biden will host Modi at the White House for their first bilateral meeting tomorrow.
Later on that day, Biden will host the first-ever in-person Quad Leaders' Summit with Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Both Biden and Prime Minister Modi have spoken virtually on multiple occasions after the former, a Democrat, became US president in January.
The last telephone conversation between them took place on April 26.
Vice President Harris will meet Prime Minister Modi today. This will be the first meeting between the two leaders. Harris had earlier spoken with Modi over the phone in June during the COVID-19 crisis.
Harris is the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to be elected Vice President.
On September 25, Modi will address the UNGA session, where he will dwell on issues like global efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic, climate change and cross-border terrorism among others.
