Modi-Obama meet likely in Sept

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet US President Barack Obama during his visit to New York in September. The PM, who will be in the US from September 23-28, will speak at the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development on September 25. More than 150 world leaders are expected to attend the UN Summit to formally adopt the outcome document of the new agenda. 

After his speech, Modi will fly to the West Coast to address Indian-Americans in the Silicon Valley, speak at the prestigious Stanford University and visit the Google office. Modi will be the fourth Indian PM to visit West Coast after a gap of 33 years. Modi will address a crowd of 20,000 Indian-American community at the SAP Centre, in San Jose, California. 

“leading up to and after the reception, high-impact meetings and programmes are being planned to promote the shared ideals of innovation and entrepreneurship that define both the Silicon Valley and a vibrant India under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi,” said a Press release from the Indo-American community of West Coast, USA.

Modi will fly back to New York on September 28 for a possible meeting with the outgoing US President. The White House is yet to confirm the meeting.  

A possibility of meeting between Modi with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the UNGA too cannot be ruled out though nothing has been finalised as of now. 

Sources in Pakistani Government said PM Sharif’s US programme will be finalised only after their Independence Day — August 14. While Sharif will make a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 30, India will be represented by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who will speak at the forum on October 1. Modi will return India on September 28. 

Modi will also visit United Arab Emirates (UAE) on August 16-17. He is expected to address a strong crowd of Indian expats at the Dubai Cricket Stadium, besides seeking investment from the Gulf nation.