Foreign Ministry on PM Modi's dinner with US President Barack Obama:

PM Modi's US Visit
Sep 30, 2014
07:54 (IST) Foreign Ministry on PM Modi's dinner with US President Barack Obama:

On dinner with President Obama: PM said please go ahead as per normal. The dinner was served. Obama had food. In diplomatic practice, it is normal to inform about dietary preferences. They were prepared for it.
07:49 (IST) Foreign Ministry on PM Modi's dinner with US President Barack Obama:

PM wrote an edit in WSJ, we are moving down many firsts. The idea waa suggested to PM and he agreed this would work out. Both are great votaries of digital diplomacy. Very easy to digitally interact through electronic means.
Only finalised this evening after PM's arrival here, so couldn't tell you in advance.
07:45 (IST) Foreign Ministry on PM Modi's dinner with US President Barack Obama:
They exchanged anecdotes of how they saw their first few months in office, that is also a way of understanding each other.
On Obama's reaction to PM Modi's gifts: 'I never respond on behalf of another country'
There was general consensus to work together towards (issues like) Ebola and Afghanistan.
On Islamic State: They didn't get into direct discussion of any substantive issues, this will follow tomorrow

07:42 (IST) Foreign Ministry on PM Modi's dinner with US President Barack Obama:

Modi has brought a special edition of Gita by Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhiji's interpretation of Gita, it was a special reprint ordered by PM Modi (with) khadi on its cover, silk covering in a box. It was prepared in Delhi and handed over to Obama today.
Requested AIR to give a copy of Martin Luther King's speech in 1959 when he visited India, a photo of him at Rajghat, which PM Modi has framed and given to President Obama.
A small clip from 1959, a video clip of his  visit to India. All prepared by the Prime Minister's Office and handed over to Obama.

07:38 (IST) Foreign Ministry on PM Modi's dinner with US President Barack Obama:
When President Obama said 'kem chho', PM Modi responded saying 'thank you very much Mr President'. PM Modi answered in Obama's language.
Obama said he had similar experience, he went about focusing on technology and e-governance.
It was a 90-minute meeting
PM laid out his hopes and aspirations, his development vision.
They agreed to take up more substantive issues tomorrow morning
In general there was a lot of goodwill for India and US in each other's countries.
India-US relationship among the most important in the world.
Both would work towards strengthening the relationship.

07:34 (IST)

Foreign Ministry on PM Modi's dinner with US President Barack Obama:

Both had used technology in their campaigns. Both relative outsiders in Washington. Relative outsiders to capital cities when they assumed power. Both had great interest in technology.
Initial disappointments in terms of available infrastructure.
PM Modi, when he came from Gujarat, found tech infrastructure  in Delhi.

07:29 (IST) Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and other key US officials at the White House for a private dinner, ahead of formal talks in the Oval Office on Tuesday.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin addressed the press after the meeting. He talked about PM Modi's meeting with top CEOs on Monday. Here are the highlights:

    He laid down his vision of the future
    He said that change required inputs from various sources: investors and citizens
    His strategy: he wants investors to invest in India for that change
    He brainstormed, got ideas and promoted his vision
    He laid out a host of things that have been undertaken over the last 3-4 months
    The CEOs wanted accelerated engagement in India
    Some expressed views/concerns on the tax regime
    PM assured them that he himself would like a stable tax regime, stable tax regime is necessary for investment to flow.
    PM met 11 CEOs for breakfast but later met them individually too
    They agreed to have a major investment conference in India early next year
    If they work towards this plan, they expect an investment of roughly $ 6billion
    PM met with Hillary and Bill Clinton
    I am thrilled, excited..no one had the vision to build a prosperous India as you did, said Bill Clinton
    They spoke at large about the Clinton Foundation
    PM also raised the issue of sickle cell anemia, expressed his wish that Clinton Foundation would work towards the rising figures of this disease in India

06:07 (IST) 'Kem Chho?' President Obama Welcomes PM Modi at White House
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is meeting President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and other key US officials at the White House for a private dinner, ahead of formal talks in the Oval Office on Tuesday.05:52 (IST)
05:28 (IST)

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