Obama thanks Indians for their extraordinary hospitality

NEW DELHI - US President Barack Obama on Monday thanked the people of India for their extraordinary hospitality and warmth.

After attending a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan here, Obama said: “I thank all the people of India for their extraordinary hospitality and convey my warmest regards from the people of America.”

He also said that the US and India will work on international principles and for the promotion of peace and stability not only for the two countries, but for the world.

“United States intends to strengthen what is already an incredible partnership between the US and India to what will be a defining partnership of the 21st century,” he added.

“We share an extraordinary people-to-people contacts and my hope is that during by discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and others we will be able to build on commercial ties, strengthen our bilateral relations on international economy, on counter-terrorism for a secure US and India in the future,” he said.

The Obama’s were welcomed warmly at the presidential palace forecourt by President Pratibha Patil and her husband Devisingh Patil.

They were then greeted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur.

Obama then inspected a tri-service Guard of Honour.

The U.S First Couple then proceeded to Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation, where they paid tribute.

President Obama will hold formal talks with Prime Minister Singh and address a joint press conference at Hyderabad House later in the day

In the evening, he will address a joint sitting of Parliament before attending a state banquet hosted in his honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan. (ANI)