India, US keen to have 'excellent outcomes' from Obama visit

With a fortnight left for US President Barack Obama's visit, India Monday said it was looking forward with great enthusiasm to the "landmark" visit and both sides were keen to have "excellent outcomes" from the talks.

Obama will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade Jan 26, in what will be his second visit to India.

"I can confirm that the government of India is looking forward with great enthusiasm" to the visit, external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said at a briefing here.

He said US Secretary of State John Kerry, who was in Gandhinagar to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday during which both held talks on the agenda for Obama's visit.

He said talks were on regarding the outcome of the visit, and added: "Both India and the US look at this as a landmark visit, both are keen to have excellent outcomes of the visit".

Amid reports that Obama might be visiting Agra or Varanasi, the spokesperson said the logistical details of the US president's visit would be worked out later by senior officials.

In Gandhinagar, Kerry told reporters that both sides would strive to make progress on issues like defence agreements, the civil nuclear agreement as well as economic issues.

During his speech at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, Kerry said Obama was "very excited and particularly pleased" that he will be the first US president to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade.

Obama had last visited India in 2010. He will be the first US president to visit India twice while in office.

Modi met Obama during his visit to the US in September 2014.