The Hindu Business Line : Obama to accord red carpet welcome to Manmohan

WASHINGTON: A red carpet welcome awaits the Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh as he lands at the Andrews Air Force Base today as the first state guest of President Mr Barack Obama for a visit that is expected to take the Indo-US strategic relationship to the next level.

The Prime Minister, his wife Ms Gursharan Kaur, and his delegation would be welcomed by a group of children and the Indian American community, before he drives to the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, three blocks away from White House.

Mr Singh would be staying at the hotel instead of the historic Blair House, US President's designated guest house. The Prime Minister's state visit actually starts on November 24 when the US President Mr Barack Obama and First Lady Ms Michell would pers onally welcome Mr Singh and his wife at the White House and he would be given a 21-gun salute.

Mr Singh, however, would kick-off his trip tomorrow by addressing the American business community, which is his way of acknowledging their contribution in strengthening of the US-India relationship and in particular their role in the passage of the landm ark civilian nuclear deal.

There is a huge enthusiasm among the US corporate leaders with many of them flying in from various parts of the country just for this event.

Later in the evening, he would address the intellectual community at the prestigious think-tank Council on Foreign Relations and would directly respond to their questions. - PTI

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