After an eventful day in New York, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday arrived at Washington DC on Wednesday on the second leg of his maiden state visit to the US during which he will hold bilateral talks with President Joe Biden and address a joint session of the US Congress.
At Washington, he met the First Lady of the US, Jill Biden and visited the National Science Foundation in Alexandria, Virginia. Later in the day, he met US President Joe Biden, who hosted a private dinner for him there.
Modi arrived from New York where he led a historic event at the UN Headquarters earlier in the day to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga, attended by UN officials, diplomats and prominent personalities.
In Washington, Modi will also meet business leaders and interact with the Indian community. Here's what the second leg of Modi's visit to US is all about:
1. At Washington, The prime minister, who is visiting the US at the invitation of President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, will join them for the state banquet along with a number of dignitaries on Thursday. "The Official State visit moves to its next phase. PM @narendramodi accorded a ceremonial welcome and guard of honour as he sets foot at the Joint Base Andrews airport in Washington DC. In Washington DC, PM will hold bilateral meeting with @POTUS @JoeBiden; address the Joint Session of the US Congress; and interact with CEOs and a cross-section of Indian diaspora," Arindam Bagchi, the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said in a tweet.
2. Modi reached Washington where he was greeted with a ceremonial welcome and guard of honour at the Andrews Air Base. The national anthems of both countries were played. "Reached Washington DC. The warmth of the Indian community and the blessings of Indra Devta made the arrival even more special."
3. From the airport, Modi travelled to the hotel where Indian diaspora members were waiting for him. Indian diaspora members braved rain to welcome Modi at Freedom Plaza in Washington. Some of the community members staged cultural programmes including 'Garba' and other folk dances outside the hotel in Washington DC where Modi will stay. "We are very happy, this is a memorable event. We are very excited and looking forward," said Kavita, a Kuchipudi dancer representing Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, according to e report by PTI. Some diaspora members in colourful attires were carrying Indian flags and chanting 'Modi-Modi' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. Modi briefly interacted with the enthusiastic supporters at the hotel and gave autographs to some of them.
4. The First Lady highlighted career-connected learning and workforce training programs and partnerships between high schools, community colleges, and universities with employers. During the visit, the First Lady and the Prime Minister will meet students from the US and India who are learning skills to succeed in industries vital to the economies of the two countries. "If we want our economies to be strong, we need to invest in young people who are our future. We need to ensure that they have the opportunities that they deserve," she said
5. Further, during the address at the National Science Foundation in Virginia, PM Modi said India and the US could think of starting an 'India US teachers' exchange programme'. As he interacted with some students there, he said the friendship between India and the US will prove to be "inclusive" and will become a "sustainable growth engine." "I am very happy that as soon as I arrived in DC, I got the opportunity to meet such young and creative students. It is special for me as India is collaborating with the National Science Foundation on multiple projects," he said.
6. Upon arriving, PM Modi met Sanjay Mehrotra, President-CEO of Micron Technology, in Washington DC. He also met General Electic CEO H. Lawrence Culp Jr.
7. Ahead of the State dinner, First Lady Jill Biden during a media preview, shared the details of the dishes that would be served to Modi. The menu will include Marinated Millet and Grilled Corn Kernel Salad among other dishes.
8. Earlier on Wednesday, PM Modi led the celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The programme created a new Guinness World Record with a total of 135 nationalities coming together to practise yoga together. It broke the earlier record of 114 nationalities.
9. During his departure from New York, Modi said this "special invitation" from President Biden and the First Lady for a state visit is a reflection of the vigour and vitality of the partnership between the democracies. Modi and Biden have had the opportunity to meet several times since his last official visit to the US in September 2021. "This visit will be an opportunity to enrich the depth and diversity of our partnership," Modi said.
10. Modi said his discussions with President Biden and other senior US leaders will provide an opportunity to consolidate bilateral cooperation as well as in plurilateral forums such as G20, Quad and IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity). Noting that the US Congress has always provided strong bi-partisan support to India-US ties, Modi said that during his visit, he will address a joint session of the US Congress at the invitation of the Congressional leadership. "Strong people-to-people linkages have been instrumental in developing the trust between our countries. I look forward to meeting the vibrant Indian-American community that represents the best of our societies," he said.
