Manmohan concludes his 8-day two-nation tour; leaves for home

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and French President Nicolas Sarkozy along with their delegation for CHOGM meeting in Port of Spain on Friday. Photo: PTI

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday wound up a visit to Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago, where he attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), and left for home concluding a two-nation tour which also covered the US.

During his eight-day long visit, Dr. Singh met U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington where he was the first State guest under the new Administration.

The Prime Minister also met French President Nicholas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper. A highlight of the visit was the conclusion of negotiations on Civil Nuclear agreement with Canada.

In the first leg of his visit, Singh was in Washington where he signed MoUs in counter-terrorism, among others, and both sides decided to chalk out a new path for further bilateral ties.

Dr. Singh held talks with Mr. Obama on the entire gamut of bilateral relations, situation in the region and global challenges like terrorism, climate change and economic crisis.

During the tour, Mr. Obama hosted the State banquet at the White House for Dr. Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur, a gala event to which enormous colour was added by a cultural programme and special Indian cuisine.