Obama arrives in India to a warm welcome from Modi

US president Barack Obama and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi embrace each other upon the president and first lady's arrival at Palam airport, New Delhi on January 25, 2015. EPA/Press Information Show more

NEW DELHI // President Barack Obama arrived in India on Sunday and was greeted to an elaborate welcome at the country’s sprawling presidential palace, before laying a wreath at a memorial honouring Mahatma Gandhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was waiting for Mr Obama at the steps of Air Force One on Sunday morning and the two men shared a hug, underscoring the warm relationship they have formed in the short time that Mr Modi has been in office.

The president and prime minister were to spend much of Sunday discussing climate change, defence and economic ties. On Monday, Mr Obama will be the guest of honour at India’s Republic Day festivities, making him the first US president to ever attend the anniversary of the country’s democratic constitution.

“It is a great honour,” Mr Obama said after reviewing an Indian honour guard formation at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace. “We are so grateful for the extraordinary hospitality.”

Following their meetings, the US president and Mr Modi were to issue statements and address reporters.

The two leaders strolled briefly through the picturesque gardens of Hyderabad House where they held their discussions, walking past little ponds of lotus flowers, before sitting down and talking some more over tea. Both looked relaxed and smiled and laughed often as they chatted animatedly.

Earlier in the day, the normally bustling streets of New Delhi were empty and the sidewalks cleared by Indian police as Mr Obama’s motorcade sped from the presidential palace to Gandhi’s memorial. A massive security presence was in place for Mr Obama’s visit, with numerous roadblocks and armed men lining the streets.

Mr Obama walked in his socks into a walled courtyard to lay a large white wreath at the site where Gandhi, the father of India’s independence movement, was cremated. He then shovelled dirt and poured a pitcher of water around a young tree planted in his honour at the memorial.

While much of the US president’s trip to India is to be symbolic, the White House is seeking to make progress on numerous policy matters. Relations between the United States and India have been strained in recent years, but have been improving since Mr Modi took office last year.

High on Mr Obama’s agenda is making progress on getting heavily polluted India to agree to curb carbon emissions. White House officials hope the surprise climate agreement that the US struck with China in November might spur India to take similar steps, though that’s unlikely to happen during this visit.

As the leaders’ talks opened on Sunday, the prime minister presented Mr Obama with a copy of a 1950 telegram from the US, congratulating India on the adoption of its constitution.

The US president is cutting his trip short to go to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to pay his respects following the death of King Abdullah. In doing so, the White House had to cancel a tour by the president and first lady of the Taj Mahal, the famed white marble monument in the city of Agra.

* Associated Press