New Delhi: US Vice President Joe Biden will reach Delhi on Monday evening for a four-day visit. Source said the visit is expected to lay the ground work ahead of President Barack Obama's visit to India later this year. Biden will meet Prime minister Manmohan Singh and leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.
Accompanied by his wife Jill, Biden is scheduled Monday evening, after which he will visit Gandhi Smriti, a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. He will meet top leaders in New Delhi and address business and student community in Mumbai, before leaving for Singapore for the last leg of his week-long trip.
In Mumbai, he will deliver a speech on US-India relations and meet the business community and students. "This trip will be an important opportunity to strengthen our partnerships within the region and reaffirm our commitment to re-balancing US foreign policy towards the Asia-Pacific," the White House said.
According to the White House, Biden will begin his official meetings tomorrow with his Indian counterpart Hamid Ansari. He will also meet the US Embassy staff in New Delhi.
Biden will meet President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders to discuss India-US engagement on a broad array of issues includes economic growth, trade, energy and climate change, security and investments in innovation and education.
In his meetings with the top leaders, Biden is likely to discuss host of bilateral, regional and global issues, besides emphasising on closer co-operation to harness economic and strategic opportunities, the White House said.
He is then scheduled to call on Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, before having a one-to-one dialogue with Prime Minister Singh at his official residence.
Biden will meet President Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhawan and take part in the dinner to be hosted by Vice President Ansari at the Hyderabad House, before leaving for Mumbai.
(With additional inputs from PTI)
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