New Delhi: The crux of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Namaste Trump' was to showcase the personal bond between him and US President Donald Trump; he called him "my friend, India's friend".
"There is so much that we share: values and ideals, the spirit of enterprise and innovation, opportunities and challenges, hopes and aspirations," Modi said.
Connecting the United States and India through two statues -- the Statues of Liberty and the Statue of Unity, PM Modi smartly positioned India as a nation that has much in common with the United States.
Modi in his welcome address at the 'Namaste Trump' described the US President Donal Trump's visit as the beginning of a new chapter in Indo-US relationship.
The US President and his family received a rousing welcome from an estimated one lakh ten thousand people gathered at the Motera stadium on Monday, the first day of their two-day state visit to India.
"The name of this program - Namaste -- it has a very deep meaning... It is one of the oldest languages in the world, a Sanskrit word. Its sense is that not only the person, but also the divinity within him," remarked Modi.