M A I N   N E W S

PM calls up Obama, discusses talks agenda
Ashok Tuteja
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 28
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today told US President Barack Obama that a warm welcome awaited him and his family when they visit India in November this year.

During a telephonic conversation this evening, the two leaders discussed the strategic dialogue between the two countries scheduled to be held next week in Washington, said PMO officials.

The two sides attach great significance to the dialogue as a means to strengthen bilateral engagement on a wide range of issues, including high technology trade, science and technology, civil nuclear cooperation, agriculture, human resource development, security and other strategic issues.

The Indian side at the dialogue will be led by External Affairs Minister SM Krishna while the American delegation will be headed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Indian delegation is expected to include union ministers Kapil Sibal, Prithviraj Chavan and Dineshbhai Trivedi and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

The PM and Obama utilised the opportunity to discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest. Obama conveyed to the PM condolences on the loss of lives resulting from the air crash in Mangalore last week.