Obama, Michelle arrive Sunday, to visit Agra

Jan 22 (IANS) US President Barack Obama will arrive in India Jan 25 along with his wife Michelle on a three-day state visit, described Thursday as the culmination of "qualitative reinvigoration" of bilateral ties since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington last year.

Obama is expected to arrive at 10 a.m. Sunday on board the Air Force One.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said Obama's visit, on the invite of Modi, is a "culmination of a qualitative reinvigoration of our ties following the meeting" between the two leaders in September last year in Washington.

He said since that meeting, both sides have "acted with alacrity to collaborate in common pursuits and traversed a transformative path".

Obama is the first US president to visit India twice during his tenure and the first to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal has been named the minister-in- waiting for the visit and would receive Obama at the airport as well as escort and assist him through the visit.

However, there was no clarification on whether Prime Minister 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.

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 for Hyderabad House for bilateral discussions, which would be held in a restricted format. After the talks, Modi is 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 and later the At Home reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted by the president. In the evening, Obama and Modi would address business events. 

Both Modi and Obama are to address the US-India Business Council (USIBC) comprising business persons 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 and later proceed to Agra with Michelle Obama to see the Taj Mahal, before flying back to the US.