The prime minister meets leaders of prominent US think tanks.
By Jayshal Sood
WASHINGTON, DC: Â Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the US capital for a three-day official visit on Monday afternoon.
After touching town at the Andrews Air Force Base near here, Modi went directly to the Arlington Cemetery, where he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The prime minister also laid a wreath at the Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial, where relatives of the late Indian American astronaut Kalpana Chawla were present at the occasion. Other attendees included US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams and senior NASA officials.
Chawla was one of the astronauts perished when Columbia crashed over Texas upon its return from space on February 1, 2003.
The second event the prime minister attended was a ceremony where the United States returned a dozen stolen artifacts to India. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch was also present at the event.
The final event of the day for the premier was an interaction with leaders from prominent US think tanks.
Briefing reporters on Monday evening, Indian Ambassador to the United States Arun K. Singh said the prime minister discussed  issues related to improved India-US cooperation in various fields.
“The aim of the interaction was to understand from them how they see global trends in the coming years, the challenges, and what US and India could work together,” Singh said.
The think tanks represented at the interaction included The Brookings Institution, the Council on Foreign Relations, Center for American Progress, Â the Atlantic Council, the Hudson Institute, the Center for National Interest, the Global Energy Capital, Carnegie Endowment, Asia Group, New Research Center, the US Institute of Peace, and Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Obama at the White House on Tuesday. The two leaders will also have a working lunch.
Later in the evening, the prime minister will address an annual meeting of the US-India Business Council.
On Wednesday, the Modi will address a joint session of the US Congress.