New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is set to embark on a five-day visit to the United States, will begin his trip from September 26 to 30, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday, while stressing that his visit is signal of India's abiding commitment to multi-lateralism and desire to build strong ties with Washington.
He will be accompanied by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. She will leave for the US on Tuesday night and will join the delegation once Modi reaches there, MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said in a press conference.
In his five-day trip to New York and Washington, Modi will have over 30 engagements. He is scheduled to hold meetings with US administration, Heads of state, businessmen and NRI community.
Modi will meet four leading figures of the US administration, including President Barack Obama on September 29 and 30 when he is in Washington, Akbaruddin said.
The MEA spokesrperson further confirmed that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be meeting US President Barack Obama on September 29 in Washington.
"The Prime Minister will be meeting President Barack Obama on the 29th as well as on the 30th of this month, when he is in Washington. He will also meet Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton in New York on 29th September," Akbaruddin said.
"The Prime Minister's private dinner with President Obama will be on September 29th in Washington, and the rest of the events will take place on September 30th," he said.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to US is being viewed as India's abiding commitment to multilateralism. Some of the themes of PM's upcoming visit to US will be trade and investment, science and technology, and defence and maritime security," he added.
He further said that the Prime Minister will also be meeting his Bangladeshi and Nepali counterparts on his visit.
"Prior to his address, our PM will be meeting the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He will also be meeting the President of Sri Lanka and the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and Nepal," Akbaruddin said. However, he will not meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
"The PM will pay homage to the 9/11 memorial on 27th September. He will also pay homage at the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Memorial and Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Washington 30th morning," he added.
