Obama, Singh strike united front on key issues

Washington: US President Barack Obama showered praise on India and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in an elaborate welcoming ceremony on Tuesday declaring it was only fitting that the Indian leader should be the first state visitor of his administration.

Obama said the United States and India share the "bold experiments" of becoming democracies after breaking from rule by a colonial power, and in modern times both have known the pain of international terrorism.

"Our nations are two global leaders, driven not to dominate other nations but to build a future of security and prosperity for all nations," Obama said

Chilly, damp weather led the White House to move the ceremony indoors, where Singh and Obama stood before photographers and television cameras in the East Room as a Marine band played the national anthems of their countries.

Common values

Singh said that India and the US are separated by distance but bound by common national values of "democracy, pluralism, rule of law and respect for fundamental human freedoms".

Singh has said he is optimistic about the future of the US-Indian relationship and is looking for a "strategic partnership of global dimensions".

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs called Singh's visit a show of respect acknowledging India's growing economic and political power.

Behind the pomp of the state visit, Singh and Obama will be working to smooth over differences on climate change and US ties with Indian rivals China and Pakistan.

The White House is eager to show that, despite what some Indians see as a lack of attention during Obama's first ten months, it values Singh's country as a key partner in dealing with extremists in South Asia, in settling international trade and global warming pacts and in steering the world economy out of turmoil.

Indians will be looking for Obama to reverse a perception that he neglected India during his recent trip to Asia and seemed to endorse a stronger role for China in India's sensitive dealings with Pakistan.

Past relations

Obama wants to re-establish the strong feelings of goodwill the countries enjoyed during George W. Bush's presidency.

Bush is credited with transforming the relationship after decades of Cold War-era distrust.

The symbol of those new ties is a civilian nuclear cooperation accord signed into law last year after years of close communication and tough negotiation.

As Obama and Singh meet, a major topic for discussion will be Pakistan — India's bitter rival and a country the United States relies on in the fight against extremists along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Singh on Monday urged Islamabad to deal with those who planned last year's Mumbai terrorist attacks, which left 166 people dead.

Pakistan "should be pressurised by the world community to do much more to bring to book all those people who are responsible for this horrible crime," Singh said.

"The trauma of the attack continues to haunt us."

Prior meetings: simple affairs

Harry S. Truman: In October 1949 Truman's dinner with Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, was notable because it was not at the White House. The mansion was being repaired and Truman had decamped to Blair House across the street.

Dwight D. Eisenhower: In December 1956, instead of a lavish White House dinner, Eisenhower went the low-key route and treated Nehru to a Sunday lunch of oysters on the half shell and roast leg of lamb.

John F. Kennedy: In November 1961, at Nehru's request, Kennedy dispensed with the pomp of the customary dinner for dozens and held a smaller, black-tie affair, apparently so the two leaders could continue their talks. Only about 14 people were at the table.

Ronald Reagan: In July 1982, for the third White House dinner of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's tenure, Reagan served seafood neptune, lamb wrapped in golden pastry and frozen black cherry bombe.

Bill Clinton: In September 2000 Clinton toasted a renewed US-India friendship at the largest dinner of his presidency honouring one person, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

George W. Bush: In July 2005 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the honouree at one of the few gala White House dinners during Bush's presidency which included pan-roasted halibut and ginger-carrot butter.