USA lays out red carpet for PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in the US from Switzerland on the fourth leg of his five-nation tour.

Air India One touched down at Joint Base Andrews a little before 3 p.m. here on Monday.

This is Modi`s second bilateral visit to the US after his trip in September, 2014.

Modi is visiting the US at the invitation of President Barack Obama, who in the last year of his presidency is inviting a few world leaders with whom he shared a "close and productive working relationship".

On Monday, Modi will visit the Arlington National Cemetery and lay a wreath.

He will also attend a meeting of heads of US think tanks and a function at which some rare Indian artifacts will be repatriated.

On Tuesday, Obama will host Modi for a lunch at the White House after which the Prime Minister will attend a meeting of US business leaders and address the US-India Business Council.

This will be the seventh meeting between Modi and Obama as Prime Minister and President.

The highlight of Modi`s visit will be his address to a joint sitting of the US Congress on Wednesday.

Later on Wednesday, he will leave for Mexico on the fifth and final leg of his five-nation tour.

Earlier on Monday, Modi and Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann headed delegation level talks in Geneva during which the issues of black money and India`s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) figured.

Switzerland extended support for India`s membership in the group.

Modi also held a meeting with Swiss business leaders and pitched India as an exciting investment destination to them.

Prior to Switzerland, Prime Minister Modi visited Afghanistan and Qatar.