Biden visits Rajghat, Gandhi Smriti ahead of talks with Indian leadership Update/Biden)

Visiting U.S Vice President Joe Biden paid homage to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat and visited the Gandhi Smriti, a museum on Gandhi, soon after his arrival in national capital New Delhi on a four-day official visit.

The visit to the two memorials takes place ahead of Biden's talks with the Indian leadership on a variety of issues of mutual interest to the two countries, address captains of Indian industry, the student community and American embassy staff.

Earlier, Biden, who is accompanied by his wife Jill, and senior officials of the Obama administration, was received by Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai, India's Ambassador to Washington Nirupama Rao and other senior officials in the technical area of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA)

He is the first U.S. vice-president to visit India after three decades. The official part of Biden's visit will begin Tuesday, when he meets top leaders in New Delhi.

Biden will call on President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders to discuss India-U.S. engagement on a broad array of issues, including ways to

enhance economic growth, and cooperation in trade, energy and climate change, security and strategic opportunities, besides investments in innovation and education.

"This trip will be an important opportunity to strengthen our partnerships within the region and reaffirm our commitment to re-balancing US foreign policy towards the Asia-Pacific," the White House had said earlier before Biden's departure for India.

His visit to India is expected to lay the ground work for a visit to the United States of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in September-October, during which he is expected to hold meetings with President Barack Obama.