Modi arrives in Washington, to address joint session of US Congress

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the fourth leg of his five nation tour reached Washington. He started his formal engagements after laying a wreath at the tomb of unknown soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery and paid tributes at Columbia Space shuttle memorial. Mr Modi also met family members of late astronaut Kalpana Chawla in the presence of Sunita Williams, an American astronaut. 

Mr Modi also participated at a ceremony where a significant number of cultural artefacts illegally taken from India, were returned to Indian ownership. He expressed his gratitude to the Government of the United States for returning the stolen cultural objects back to India. The Prime Minister said, he is grateful to President Barack Obama for returning to India these treasures, which join Indians to their past. Later, he interacted with some think tanks based in US. Speaking on the Prime Minister's visit, Ashley Tellis of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said , it will be a very important step forward in taking the bi-lateral relations to a new heights.

Briefing reporters after Prime minister's first day in the US, India's Ambassador to US, Mr



Arun Singh said, during the Think tank meeting, everyone underscored the need for what India and US can do together for the world. Mr Singh also said 12 artefacts were returned to India today out of 200 by US Attorny General Loretta E Lynch during today's ceremony with Prime Minister.

Mr Arun Singh said, India's trade has increased five times in the last 15 years with the United States. He said, Prime Minister's this significant visit would further consolidate and celebrate the partnership between the two countries. He said, India is exploring new areas of partnership in trade with the US. The Ambassador said political and people to people contact has also been increased many fold between the two countries.

During this visit, Mr Modi will hold talks with US President Barack Obama to review bilateral ties and address a joint session of the US Congress. He reached Washington from Switzerland where he secured the European nation's support for India's NSG membership ahead of a key meeting of the 48-nation bloc. Earlier, he visited Afghanistan and Qatar. In the final leg of his tour, Mr Modi will travel to Mexico before returning to India.