New Delhi, India (BBN)-“Six years after we signed a bilateral agreement we are moving towards commercial viability,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announcing an agreement on the nuclear liability issue after talks with US president Barack Obama.
HERE ARE THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS STORY:
“This is a natural global partnership,” the Indian PM said while addressing a joint press conference with President Obama, who he also referred to by his first name, Barack.
President Obama, speaking after PM Modi, said namaste and then in Hindi “Mera Pyar Bhara Namaskar (Greetings with love).”
He thanked PM Modi for the chai pe charcha (talks over tea) and said, “we need more of those at the White House,” NDTV reports.
Earlier, the two leaders had walked together in the lawns of Delhi’s Hyderabad House, deep in talks.
They then sat down to a cup of tea that PM Modi poured.
Sources said President Obama and PM Modi gave a final push during talks today to break the six-year deadlock on the stalled nuclear deal worth billions.
The US has reportedly withdrawn a demand to track the nuclear material it supplies to India, which New Dellhi had said was intrusive.
President Obama and his wife Michelle landed in Delhi a little before 10 this morning. In a departure from protocol, PM Modi received them at the airport. He greeted President Obama with a hug and the leaders shook hands.
President Obama has been invited by PM Modi to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations tomorrow. He will be the first US president to be chief guest at the Republic Day parade. He is also the first US president to visit India twice.
President Obama was given a 21-gun salute in a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, where he greeted President Pranab Mukhejee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a namaste.
“I am grateful for the extraordinary hospitality, it’s a great honour to be back in India,” the US president said after inspecting a Guard of Honour led by a woman officer of the Indian Air Force, Wing Commander Puja Thakur.
This afternoon, he also visited Rajghat where he paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and planted a sapling. Asked about his reception in India so far, Mr Obama said, “It’s hard to match this one.”
The US President will attend a state banquet hosted by President Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening. Sources said 250 guests have been invited for the banquet.
BBN/SK/AD-25Jan15-4:20pm (BST)