Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first ever meeting with US President Barack Obama will have a strong focus on defense and security issues, senior US administration officials said today.
Energy, climate change and trade and economy would be other major areas of discussion when Obama and Modi meet for two consecutive days next week at the White House in Washington, which officials said would help the two leaders know each other and establish a personal rapport between them.
"The President and the First Lady are very excited and pleased to welcome Prime Minister to Washington and to the White House. This is a historic and pivotal moment in the history of our two democratic nations," a top administration official said.
The official said that Modi's visit comes at a pivotal time in international matters, with crisis ranging from the fight against militants in the Middle East to the challenges posed to the people and governments of East Africa by Ebola.
It is in this international context that the two leaders would be meeting here on Monday and Tuesday, the official said.
At the invitation of the President, Modi would be staying at the Blair House.
Obama and the First Lady would host a private dinner for the visiting leader on September 29, soon after he arrives from New York, after attending the annual session of the UN General Assembly.
Modi and Obama would hold their formal meeting at the Oval Office of the White House on the morning of Tuesday, September 30.
Thereafter Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry would host him for lunch at the Foggy Bottom headquarters in the State Department.
"We are very much looking forward to discussing the full range of global issues and considering the means to addressing those issues and challenges together," the official said.
Two leaders, the official said, would discuss the ways in which the US can play a strong and supportive role in support of the Prime Minister's objective of economic and domestic reforms, following his landslide victory in the general elections early this year.
The United States is looking forward to "reinvigorate" the strategic partnership, the official added.
The official reiterated that the US continues to support a strong India that plays an important role in international affairs and the Prime Minister's visit to the US would provide the two leaders to sit down and chalk out a vision for this defining partnership of the 21st century.
