Indian PM to meet United States President in September

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet with US President Barack Obama at the White House next month, where the two leaders will chart a course seeking enhanced bilateral ties and defence cooperation between the two countries, US officials have said.

Singh will visit the White House on September 27.

The announcement of his visit came as renewed tensions along the Kashmir border threaten to sabotage efforts by India and Pakistan to improve bilateral ties.

National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon yesterday met his US counterpart Susan Rice, and Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel to prepare for the “working visit” of the Prime Minister.

“This meeting follows the Prime Minister’s visit to Washington in 2009, and the President’s visit to India in 2010, and it will highlight India’s role in regional security and stability and provide an opportunity for the two leaders to chart a course toward enhanced trade, investment, and development cooperation between the United States and India,” National Security Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden, said after the meeting.

“It’s a working visit. It’s a short visit. But I think, in terms of the substance, it is going to be a good visit,” Menon said adding that the Prime Minister’s meeting will be followed by lunch.

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