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'Will be back', says Trump concluding India visit

February 26, 2020 01:21 IST

Concluding his jam-packed maiden two-day visit to India, United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday night emplaned for his country from New Delhi.

 

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump board the Air Force One, concluding their two-day India visit on Tuesday night. Photograph: ANI Photo

The US President participated in a host of engagements over the course of his nearly-36-hour-long trip, including a roadshow, visit to the Taj Mahal, addressing a mammoth crowd at the 'Namaste Trump' event at Ahmedabad, among others.

During the visit, India and the United States further strengthened their defence cooperation, with the two countries giving a nod to an agreement under which India will get $3 billion of advanced military equipment including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters.

 

In the final engagement of the visit, the US President participated in a banquet dinner hosted by his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Several Indian dignitaries including Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Ministers of several states, among others were also present at the dinner.

In his banquet speech, Trump said he had 'tremendous two days' during which lot of business was done.

"It was very special two days. I love India, I respect Indians. We will be back, we will be back," he said.

Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday night thanked the US President for coming to India.

Modi also said, 'We have covered great ground as far as strengthening bilateral relations are concerned.'

This visit, he said, has been a 'path-breaking one'.

'India-USA friendship benefits the people of our nations and the world,' Modi said in a series of tweets.

'Thank you @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS @MELANIATRUMP for coming to India...I am delighted that @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS @MELANIATRUMP saw different aspects of Indian culture and hospitality,' he said.

The people of India welcomed them with immense warmth, Modi said.

In another tweet, the prime minister said India is happy to have hosted President Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner.

'Your liking towards India is clearly visible ... My best wishes to you in your endeavours to further empowerment and enterprise among women,' he said.

Modi hoped to see the two 'back in India soon'.

He was responding to a tweet by Ivanka about her visit to Sabarmati ashram on Monday.

'Visiting the Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati; home to the ideology that set India free and a wellspring of inspiration and guidance,' she had written.

-- with PTI inputs

Source: ANI