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Donald Trump in India: US president begins first official trip Donald Trump in India: US president addresses massive India rally
(32 minutes later)
US President Donald Trump arrived to a massive public reception after he landed in India's Gujarat state for his first official visit to the country. US President Donald Trump has arrived to a thunderous reception in Gujarat on his first official visit to India.
Mr Trump was welcomed at the airport by PM Narendra Modi who enveloped him in a bear hug soon after he landed. Mr Trump is addressing a massive public rally with PM Narendra Modi at the Motera stadium, the world's largest cricket venue.
More than 100,000 people present at the venue burst into applause as the two leaders entered.
Mr Trump's visit will focus on deepening ties between the world's two largest democracies.Mr Trump's visit will focus on deepening ties between the world's two largest democracies.
The two leaders are now en route to the Motera stadium, billed as the world's largest cricket venue. The event at Motera stadium is being compared to the "Howdy, Modi!" event the two men held in Houston last year, which was attended by 50,000 people.
The two leaders are expected to address more than 100,000 people at a joint rally there. The event is being compared to the "Howdy, Modi!" rally they held in Houston last year which was attended by 50,000 people. On his way to the stadium, Mr Trump participated in a 22km (13.5 miles) roadshow, as thousands of people lined the roads. Billboards along the route were emblazoned with pictures of the men and carry slogans such as "two dynamic personalities, one momentous occasion".
Thousands of Indians have lined the roads along the 22 km (13.6 miles) route, straining to get a glimpse of the two leaders. Billboards are emblazoned with pictures of the men and carry slogans such as "two dynamic personalities, one momentous occasion". He entered to the music of Elton John playing on the speakers. Mr Trump's love of his songs is well documented.
The road show also features performers from across the country, showcasing the arts from different Indian states. The road show also featured performers from across the country, showcasing the arts from different Indian states.
Mr Trump earlier made a quick stop at the Sabarmati Ashram, where Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Gujarat, lived for 13 years.Mr Trump earlier made a quick stop at the Sabarmati Ashram, where Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Gujarat, lived for 13 years.
Mr Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tried their hand at the charka or spinning wheel, which is used to spin cloth. Gandhi popularised the act as a form of protest against foreign-made cloth during India's independence movement.Mr Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tried their hand at the charka or spinning wheel, which is used to spin cloth. Gandhi popularised the act as a form of protest against foreign-made cloth during India's independence movement.
"To my great friend Prime Minister Modi, thank you for this wonderful visit," Mr Trump wrote in the ashram visitor's book."To my great friend Prime Minister Modi, thank you for this wonderful visit," Mr Trump wrote in the ashram visitor's book.
"I look forward to being with the people of India. We are going to have many millions and millions of people. It's a long trip. I get along very well with Prime Minister Modi. He is a friend of mine," Mr Trump said ahead of his trip. Ahead of his visit, Mr Trump had said he was looking forward "to being with the people of India".
"I had committed to this trip a long time ago. I look forward to it. I hear it's going to be a big event… the biggest event they ever had in India." "We are going to have many millions and millions of people. It's a long trip. I get along very well with Prime Minister Modi. He is a friend of mine," he said.
"I hear it's going to be a big event… the biggest event they ever had in India."
But amid the fanfare, a much-talked about trade deal is unlikely to happen during the visit.But amid the fanfare, a much-talked about trade deal is unlikely to happen during the visit.
The US is one India's most important trade partners, with bilateral trade totalling $142.6bn (£110.3bn) in 2018. The US had a $25.2bn goods and services trade deficit with India, its ninth largest trading partner in goods.
What is at stake during this visit?What is at stake during this visit?
The US is one India's most important trade partners, with bilateral trade totalling $142.6bn (£110.3bn) in 2018. The US had a $25.2bn goods and services trade deficit with India, its 9th largest trading partner in goods.The US is one India's most important trade partners, with bilateral trade totalling $142.6bn (£110.3bn) in 2018. The US had a $25.2bn goods and services trade deficit with India, its 9th largest trading partner in goods.
Despite growing political and strategic ties, there's been tension over trade issues. Mr Trump has said India's tariffs - taxes on imports - are "unacceptable", and has described India as the "king" of tariffs.Despite growing political and strategic ties, there's been tension over trade issues. Mr Trump has said India's tariffs - taxes on imports - are "unacceptable", and has described India as the "king" of tariffs.
In June 2019, the US ended preferential trade status for India, the largest beneficiary of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) - a scheme that allows some goods to enter the US duty-free.In June 2019, the US ended preferential trade status for India, the largest beneficiary of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) - a scheme that allows some goods to enter the US duty-free.
The move caused a diplomatic rift between the two countries after India imposed retaliatory tariffs on 28 US products.The move caused a diplomatic rift between the two countries after India imposed retaliatory tariffs on 28 US products.
An official US report last year said India's tariff rates on other members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) remain "the highest of any major economy".An official US report last year said India's tariff rates on other members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) remain "the highest of any major economy".
The two sides have also differed over price controls on medical equipment and India's new rules on data storage.The two sides have also differed over price controls on medical equipment and India's new rules on data storage.
The trade deal was likely to resolve some of these issues. But just days before the visit, Mr Trump announced that he was "saving the big deal for later on".The trade deal was likely to resolve some of these issues. But just days before the visit, Mr Trump announced that he was "saving the big deal for later on".
Reports say negotiations continued between the two sides until last week, but they were not able to reach a consensus on issues like the restoration of the GSP for Indian goods, and India agreeing to open some of its key markets for US goods.Reports say negotiations continued between the two sides until last week, but they were not able to reach a consensus on issues like the restoration of the GSP for Indian goods, and India agreeing to open some of its key markets for US goods.
The two sides are also expected to sign a clutch of other agreements relating to intellectual property rights, trade and homeland security.The two sides are also expected to sign a clutch of other agreements relating to intellectual property rights, trade and homeland security.
In a clear sign of ever closer defence relations, India is expected to sign two big deals with the US to acquire 30 American defence helicopters - MH-60R Seahawk and AH-64E Apache - worth more than $2.6bn.In a clear sign of ever closer defence relations, India is expected to sign two big deals with the US to acquire 30 American defence helicopters - MH-60R Seahawk and AH-64E Apache - worth more than $2.6bn.
Also, the US energy firm Westinghouse is expected to sign a new agreement with state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India for the supply of six nuclear reactors, according to Reuters news agency. The US has been discussing the sale of nuclear reactors to India since a 2008 landmark civil nuclear energy deal.Also, the US energy firm Westinghouse is expected to sign a new agreement with state-run Nuclear Power Corporation of India for the supply of six nuclear reactors, according to Reuters news agency. The US has been discussing the sale of nuclear reactors to India since a 2008 landmark civil nuclear energy deal.