Will seek to deepen strategic ties with US: PM

Says the US an important trade partner of India

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said his visit would focus on reviewing and seeking to deepen strategic ties with the US.

Speaking after his special aircraft touched down at Andrews Air Base here, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said: "We will review and seek to deepen our strategic relationship with the US during this visit."

He said the US is "an important trade partner of India and we look forward to strengthening this relationship".

The prime minister arrived in Washington on a two-day "working visit".

He will hold his third summit meeting with US President Barack Obama at the White House on Friday.

He is accompanied by his wife Gursharan Kaur. National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh are also accompanying him.

The prime minister was welcomed at the Andrews Air Force Base by acting deputy chief of protocol Rosemarie Pauli.