国际英语新闻：Indian PM starts high-profile visit to U.S.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flew into the Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington on Sunday afternoon, starting a high-profile visit to the United States.

    Before the trip, Singh said the issues he wants to discuss with the U.S. side are "global threats and challenges of our times," including terrorism, climate change and the economic downturn.

    Afghanistan and other regional issues will be also on the agenda.

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greets the members of the media at the end of his news conference in Srinagar October 29, 2009

    According to media reports, on Monday Singh will deliver speeches to U.S. business groups and think-tanks.

    U.S. President Barack Obama will meet him at the White House on Tuesday.

    On Tuesday night, Obama will host a state dinner for the visiting Indian leader.

    Commenting on the visit, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake said the United States thinks that "India has an increasingly significant role to play on virtually all of the major challenges that we face in this century."