America
Obama arrives Jan 25, talks to see 'substantive outcomes'
Barack Obama accompanied by his
wife Michelle Obama will touch down in the Indian capital on the morning
of Jan 25 on a three-day state visit that, besides the symbolism of
being the first time a US president would be chief guest at the Republic
Day parade, is expected to see "substantive outcomes" from talks in the
fields of defence, energy, education and trade.
Obama, who is
arriving on the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who he has
called a "man of action", would arrive on Air Force One at 10 a.m. to a
flurry of activities, which would culminate in a visit to Agra to see
the Taj Mahal.
Obama is the first US president to visit India
twice during his tenure and the first to attend the Republic Day parade
as chief guest.
Modi and Obama would interact on at least seven different occasions during the three-day visit.
The
two are also to record a joint 'Mann ki Baat' to be broadcast on All
India Radio Jan 27, in a different take from the joint article they had
penned in the Washington Post during Modi's visit to the US in September
2014.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin
said Obama's visit was a "culmination of a qualitative reinvigoration of
our ties following the meeting" between the two leaders in September
last year.
He said since that meeting, both sides have "acted
with alacrity to collaborate in common pursuits and traversed a
transformative path".
There was no clarification on whether Modi would go to the airport to receive the Obamas.
To
a question if the prime minister would go to the airport, the
spokesperson said that as per protocol, the minister-in-waiting and
senior ministry officials would be going.
Union Power Minister
Piyush Goyal has been named minister-in-waiting for the visit and would
receive Obama at the airport as well as escort and assist him through
the visit.
Lawmakers on the trip include Democratic minority
house leader Nancy Pelosi, Ami Bera, co-chair of the Congressional
Caucus on India and India Americans, Joe Crowley, vice chair of the
Democratic Caucus, and Senator Mark Warner, co-chair of the bipartisan
Senate India Caucus.
Officials joining Obama on the trip include
Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, US Trade Representative Michael
Froman, and the president's National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice and
Counsellor to the President, John Podesta.
Topics of discussion
will include business climate, trade and investment, climate change and
energy, defence and security cooperation, regional global issues,
Afghanistan and terrorism.
After his arrival, Obama would be accorded a ceremonial reception in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
He would then go to Raj Ghat to pay homage at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi.
Obama would later head to Hyderabad House for bilateral discussions, which would be held in a restricted format.
After
the talks, Modi will be hosting a luncheon for Obama and his
delegation, during which delegation-level talks would be held, the
spokesperson said.
In the evening of Jan 25, Obama would meet President Pranab Mukherjee, who is to host a banquet in his honour.
On
Jan 26, Obama would attend the Republic Day parade at Rajpath as the
chief guest - during which India's military might and cultural diversity
is showcased in a two-hour open air event.
In the evening, he would attend the At Home reception on the expansive lawns of Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted by the president.
Obama and Modi would also address business events Jan 26 evening.
Both
Modi and Obama are to address the US-India Business Council (USIBC)
comprising businesspersons from both countries that evening.
On
the last day of the visit Jan 27, Obama would address a select audience
at the Siri Fort auditorium on "India and America: The future we can
build together".
The Obamas will then proceed to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, before flying back to the US.
Asked about the expected outcome from the talks, the spokesperson said: "We expect substantive outcome from the talks."
A
nuclear contact group from both sides in engaged in hectic negotiations
in London to iron out contentious issues over India's nuclear liability
law ahead of Obama's visit.
The government said there has been
"progress" in the talks but declined to say whether the Modi-Obama
meeting would see any breakthrough announcement on implementation of the
stalled civil nuclear deal.
The nuclear deal is mainly stuck
over India's stringent civil nuclear liability law that puts the onus on
suppliers for any accident.
The two leaders had first met during
Modi's visit to the US in September, where both sides held summit level
talks in Washington.
They met again in Myanmar during the East Asia Summit and in Brisbane during the G20 in November.
Both leaders have developed a perceived degree of warmth in ties, which are necessary to push forward the strategic ties.
At
the President's ceremonial banquet Jan 25, among those invited are the
Ambani brothers Mukesh and Anil, Amitabh Bachchan, Sania Mirza, Sachin
Tendulkar and the three service chiefs.