Washington: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Washington on Sunday to a red carpet welcome as the first state guest of President Barack Obama for a visit that is expected to take the Indo-US strategic relationship to the next level.
Singh, his wife Gursharan Kaur and the entourage, was welcomed by a group of children and the Indian-American community at the Andrews air force base in Maryland, before he drove to the Willard Intercontinental Hotel, three blocks away from the White House.
The Prime Minister was received by India's Ambassador to the US Mira Shankar and Chief of Protocol of the United States Penavic Marshall.
The Prime Minister met children and the youths of Indian-American community.
Singh would be staying at the Willard Intercontinental hotel instead of the historic Blair House, the US President's designated guest house.
Ahead of his departure from New Delhi on Sunday, Singh had said India attaches "high priority" to its relations with the US and a "sustained and dynamic" partnership between them is essential to meet major global challenges like terrorism, climate change and economic slowdown.
The Prime Minister's state visit actually starts on November 24 when US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle would personally welcome Singh and his wife at the White House and he would be given a 21-gun salute.
Singh, however, would kick-off his trip on Monday 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 landmark civilian nuclear deal.
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