Image: Obama, PM at the White House

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was on Tuesday given a rousing welcome at the White House where he was received by President Barack Obama before they sat down for bilateral talks during which the two countries are expected to take their strategic ties to a new level.

Obama and First Lady Michelle personally welcomed Singh, the frist guest of the Obama Administration, and his wife Gursharan Kaur at the White House.

The elaborate ceremonial welcome, which was planned on the White House lawns, had to be shifted to the sprawling mansion due to the rains.

National Anthems of both India and the US were also played during the ceremony. Singh's visit is the first state visit hosted by the administration, the highest honor extended to a foreign dignitary, and the two would discuss a wide range of bilateral
issues and the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan during their one-on-one meeting.

Though the two leaders met in April on sidelines of the G-20 Summit in London and briefly at Pittsburgh's G-20 Summit, this would be for the first time they would discuss bilateral issues and possibilities of cooperation on key global issues like climate change.

The two leaders are understood to have exchanged views on a range of issues, including terrorism, situation in the region, climate change, economic and business ties, agriculture and education.

This is Singh's second state visit to the US; he has also met with former President George W Bush in 2005.

The prime minister is also expected to have registered India's concerns over diversion of US aid by Pakistan and press for ensuring accountability to prevent misuse of funds and equipment.

After the meeting and discussions between the delegations of two countries, Singh and Obama will jointly address a press conference and issue a joint statement, reflecting the strengthening of the relationship between the two countries.

The two countries will sign a number of pacts, including an MoU on Counter-Terrorism to provide a legal framework for stepped up cooperation against the menace, and discuss the problem of climate change ahead of the Copenhagen Summit.

The prime minister has indicated that he would seek a "more liberal" US technology transfer to India and an early implementation of the Indo-US nuclear deal.

The most anticipated part of the entire trip, however, has been the State Dinner, when Obama and Michell host the first black-tie dinner for the prime minister.

Image: Obama welcomes Manmohan Singh during a ceremony at the White House in Washington on Tuesday.

Photograph: Reuters