Modi says he and President Trump have decided to take the relationship to the next level. "We have had very positive discussions on every possible angle of our ties. Defence forms one of the most strategic areas of our cooperation. Drug trafficking, narco terrorism and organised crime were the other areas that came up for strategic talks and cooperation. Whether it’s nuclear trade or commerce, India-Us partnership is charting new course in bilateral relationship.
Trump kicked off his second day on the subcontinent with an elaborate outdoor welcome ceremony in front of the grand Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential Palace in New Delhi. Cannons fired as the president's armored car, nicknamed "The Beast," rolled through the palace gates accompanied by a parade of red-uniformed guards on horseback. The ceremony included hundreds of military officials, marching with instruments and swords, as well as an official greeting by India's president and its prime minister, Narendra Modi.
US First Lady Melania Trump was welcomed with a thunderous applause by excited students as she interacted with them at a Delhi government school. Melania attended 'Happiness Classes' at the Sarvodaya Vidyalaya Senior Secondary School co-ed school in South Moti Bagh as a part of which students are taught various activities including meditation, street plays, basic obedience aimed at reducing anxiety and stress levels among children.
President Donald Trump, who once owned the former Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is taking in the breathtaking views of the real Taj Mahal Monday in India. On his flight to Agra, India, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he's never been to the iconic 17th century mausoleum, but that he's heard it's "incredible". Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived at the Unesco world heritage site just as the sun was beginning to set.
According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Agra A.P. Singh, over 25,000 school students and women from self groups welcomed the US President in Agra along the 13km route from the airport to Taj Mahal. Meanwhile, over 3,000 artists at 21 different locations performed for the US President to welcome him in the city highlighting the culture of Uttar Pradesh.
US President Donald Trump arrived on Monday in the historic city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh to visit the iconic 17th century monument of love - the Taj Mahal. Trump arrived here along with US First Lady Melania Trump, his daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner and top US officials.In Agra, they were received by UP Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the Kheria airport in the Taj city of Agra.
'Biggest-ever' trade deal
US President Donald Trump told a massive crowd gathered at the Motera stadium: "It was a great experience visiting Sabarmati Ashram."
He added that he was looking forward to visiting Taj Mahal later today and laying a wreath at Raj Ghat in Delhi tomorrow (Tuesday).
He added that he and Indian PM Narendra Modi are working on the "biggest ever trade deal" which will be announced "very soon".
The US president also congratulated Modi saying: "What you have done for India is incredible."
"Today, I say to every Indian please take pride in your nation," said Trump.
He ended his speech thanking Modi, saying "God bless India and the United States. We love you India."
Modi, for his part, said Trump — during their very first meeting — had told him that India has a true friend in the White House.
The US will sign military deals worth $3 billion with India on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said at the start of a two-day state visit.
"We make the greatest weapons ever made. And we're dealing now with India," Trump told a cheering crowd at the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on Monday as he shared the stage with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sections of the stadium bear an empty look as people keep getting out to escape the treacherous sun, even as Modi continues with a rather long concluding speech.
Trump says he and Modi working on the ‘biggest ever trade deal’ which will be announced very soon.
Trump hails Indo-US Defence cooperation, saying: "We look to free up the Asia-Pacific with India’s cooperation. Trump mentions India’s importance in cooperating with the US in the fight against Islamic terrorism."
He says every country has a right to secure its borders. Mentions Pakistan, says "we are hopeful we will be able to make Pakistan do everything it can to fight terror".
Trump paid glowing tributes to Modi in his speech. "We welcomed Modi to a football stadium in Houston, and now here I am today in the world’s largest cricket stadium ... 100,000 people lighting up this stadium is a fitting feature of India’s tradition.
"Modi as a young man worked in a cafeteria and today he is the PM. PM Modi, you are a living proof that with hard work and dedication Indians can achieve anything they want."
Following his trip to Sabarmati Ashram, US President Donald Trump on Monday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 'wonderful visit'.
"To my great Friend prime Minister Narendra Modi, Thank you for this wonderful visit," wrote Trump in the visitor's book at Sabarmati Ashram.
Trump, Melania, Modi now on their way to the stadium from Sabarmati Ashram.
Giant LED screen at the stadium flashes first images of the US President’s motorcade approaching the VVIP gate at Motera.
Hopes that the world's two largest democracies could negotiate a "confidence building" deal in time for Trump's arrival have faded in recent days as differences over agriculture, medical devices, digital trade and proposed new tariffs fester, according to business groups. U.S. concerns that led last year to the suspension of India's tariff free access for some $5.6 billion in exports under the 1970s-era Generalized System of Preferences still remain, U.S. officials say. But Modi, who has built a personal rapport with Trump, is pulling out the stops for Trump's visit even though prospects for even a limited trade deal were slim.
Our correspondent reports that WiFi connectivity and even private data support is extremely unstable inside the stadium. According to a Gujarat state police official, this will in all probability remain so until the end of the programme owing to the powerful jammers that have been activated around the stadium since late last night.
More than 50 per cent of the VVIP seats at the ground level are still vacant.
Kailash Kher is performing live to the 90,000 strong audience in Motera stadium.
Barring the lower tier to the left of the main stage and a section of the top tier of the galleries on to the left of the main stage, practically the whole stadium is full now.
A ball-park estimate puts the attendance figures right now to around 90,000.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump landed in Ahmedabad in Gujarat on Monday, shortly before 10.30 am [UAE time].
The US President will participate in the 'Namaste Trump' event at Motera Stadium in a short while from now with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Later in the day, Trump will travel to Agra, where he and his wife will visit the historic Taj Mahal.
The US President is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with Modi on Tuesday in New Delhi. The visiting dignitary will also meet Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and President Ram Nath Kovind.
