Modi arrives in US

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here today on a three-day visit during which he will hold talks with President Barack Obama to review bilateral ties and address a joint session of the US Congress.
Modi arrived at the Joint Base Andrews from Switzerland where he secured the European nation's support for India's NSG membership ahead of a key meeting of the 48-nation bloc.
"Penultimate leg of PM Narendra Modi's journey begins as he arrives in Washington D.C. On a sunny summer afternoon," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.
US' Ambassador to India Richard Verma and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Biswal were among the top officials present at the base to receive Prime Minister Modi.

Modi has a packed schedule here, including the address to a joint session of the US Congress. He will be the fifth Indian Prime Minister to do so. Modi is visiting the US at the invitation of President Obama.
Since 2014, there have been six meetings and countless phone calls between Obama and Modi, and this visit "reflects the significance that the two leaders place on the natural alliance between the two largest democratic countries of the world", a senior US official had said ahead of the meeting.

This is Prime Minister Modi's fourth visit to the US.
"In my meeting with the President on June 7, we will seek to build upon the progress achieved in providing new vigour and momentum to our strategic partnership in diverse areas," Modi had said before departing for his five-nation tour to Afghanistan, Qatar, Switzerland, the US and Mexico.

Modi will begin his US visit by paying tributes at the Arlington National Cemetery. He will then meet heads of a number of American think tanks and will attend an event to repatriate Indian antiquity by the US.
Modi will also address the 40th AGM of the USIBC (US India Business Council) and meet US business leaders.
"India and USA are natural partners, two vibrant democracies that celebrate their diversity and pluralism. Strong India-USA ties benefit not only our two nations but also the entire world," Modi had said.
The Summits will be attended by Heads of State/Government
of the 10 ASEAN and 18 East Asia Summit Participating Countries respectively.

India's engagement with the ASEAN and wider Asia-Pacific region has acquired further momentum following the enunciation of the 'Act-East Policy' by Modi at the 12th ASEAN-India Summit and 9th East Asia Summit in Myanmar in November 2014.
The leaders will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern.
2017 will mark 25 years of India's dialogue partnership with ASEAN, and several commemorative activities will also be announced by Modi to celebrate the occasion.
ASEAN is a strategic partner of India since 2012.
India and ASEAN have 30 dialogue mechanisms which meet regularly.
Trade between India and ASEAN stood at USD 65.04 billion in 2015-16 and comprises 10.12 per cent of India's total trade with the world.

The ASEAN-India economic integration process has got a fillip with the creation of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area in July 2015, following the entry into force of the ASEAN-India Trade in Services and Investment Agreements.
Apart from the 10 ASEAN Member states, East Asia Summit includes India, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, United States and Russia.