Washington(DC) : US President Barack Obama took everyone by surprise today when he escorted Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh personally to see him off after a meeting. Â Â President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Gursharan Kaur at the White House on September 27. Â After meeting with Dr. Singh in Oval Office, Obama was seen escorting him to the White House Portico, which is considered by many as unusual and rarest of rare.
Barack Obama  escorting Dr. Manmohan Singh at White House
Earlier, the two leaders met and discussed an array of subjects ranging from Defense, Economy, Trade and Terrorism. The Two Leaders also made a joint declaration on Defense Cooperation. Their meeting  underscored the close ties between the United States and India, underpinned by shared democratic values that have strengthened and enriched both nations.
Officials in the past have noted that Obama has great respect for the Prime Minister not only as a great leader and a statesman but also as an economist. The two leaders have enjoyed a great personal equation.
Obama had hosted his presidency’s first state dinner for the Prime Minister in November 2009 and has described India and US as the indispensable partners of the 21st century.
In his remarks, Obama praised the Prime Minister. “He has been a great friend and partner to the United States and to me personally during his tenure as Prime Minister of India,” Obama said after meeting Singh on Friday.
“Across the board, Prime Minister Singh has been an outstanding partner,” he added.
“Thank you so much for all your efforts to continue to strengthen ties between our two countries,” Obama told Singh.
Singh too praised Obama for his commitment to the India-US relationship.
“During the time that I have been Prime Minister, and particularly during the time that President Obama and I have worked together, I think President Obama has made an outstanding contribution to strengthening, widening and deepening of our cooperation in diverse fields,” Singh said.
“In the president, the United States has a leader who realises and recognises the contribution that a resurgent India can make not only to fighting poverty, but also to global peace and prosperity,” Singh said.