PM Modi, Obama have one-to-one talks before restricted summit level talks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama had a one-to-one discussion in the White House before joining their respective delegations for summit-level discussions on a restricted format, reports said.

The two leaders and their respective delegations are expected to carry out a review of bilateral ties in various spheres and sectors of mutual interest to the two countries.

Prime Minister Modi is the ninth head of an Indian government to have bilateral talks with a US President.

The first one was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1949. Dr. Manmohan Singh is credited for having the maximum number of bilateral interactions with a US President-for about eight times.

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Tuesday's meetings between Prime Minister Modi and President Obama comes shortly after both leaders issued a bylined joint editorial in which they have summed up the road forward for India-US ties.

Earlier before arriving at the White House, Prime Minister Modi paid homage before a statue of Mahatma Gandhi near the Indian embassy in Washington, and also visited the Lincoln Memorial.

He has also reportedly met and had talks with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Maryland Governor Michael O'Malley.