PM Modi On 3-Day US Visit, Will Meet Obama, Address Congress: 10 Developments

PM Modi visited the Arlington National Cemetery and laid a wreath there on Monday evening. He also attended a meeting of heads of US think tanks and a function at which some rare Indian artifacts were repatriated.

On Tuesday, President Obama will host PM Modi for lunch at the White House after which the Prime Minister will attend a meeting of US business leaders and address the US-India Business Council. This will be the seventh meeting between Mr Modi and Mr Obama as Prime Minister and President.

PM Modi's bilateral meeting with President Barack Obama will focus on climate change, security and diplomatic cooperation, the US State department said.

"PM Modi's visit reflects significance that leaders of both nations place on our natural alliance," the US State Department told NDTV on Monday, noting "since 2014, there have been six meetings and countless phone calls" between the two leaders.

Earlier on Monday, in a big win for PM Modi, India got Switzerland's support for New Delhi's membership to the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group or NSG. "I am thankful to the President for Switzerland's understanding and support for India's membership of the NSG," PM Modi said.

PM Modi said that combating the menace of black money and tax evasion was a "shared priority" for both countries after the two leaders held comprehensive talks.

On Sunday, PM Modi was in Qatar, his second stop. "My Qatar visit witnessed fruitful & comprehensive deliberations that will usher a new era of strong India-Qatar friendship," he tweeted after the visit.

In Qatar's Doha, the PM addressed a huge gathering of Indian expats and reported on India's economy. The quarterly figures, even as India has faced two consecutive droughts, reflect a praiseworthy 7.9% growth rate, PM Modi said.

On his first stop in Afghanistan, PM Modi inaugurated the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as Salma Dam. The Prime Minister was given Afghanistan's top civilian honour Amir Amanullah Khan Award.

After his US visit, he will stop at Mexico on the last leg of his five-nation tour. He will return to India on June 9.