relations despite differences over trade, the Paris climate accord and immigration.
Their White
House session promises less pomp than Modi's previous visits to Washington,
which included former President Barack Obama taking him to the Martin Luther
King Jr. memorial in 2014.
But Trump
administration officials have pointed to both leaders' impact on social media -
each has more than 30 million Twitter followers - as proof that they are cut
from the same cloth, and predicted the two would get along well.
Trump built
a Trump Tower property in Mumbai and spoke warmly of India during his
presidential campaign last year.
"The
White House is very interested in making this a special visit," said one
senior official. "We’re really seeking to roll out the red carpet,"
Modi will
try to strengthen ties that have appeared to loosen. Indian officials, noting
both men's tendency to speak their mind, were anxious to see how they get
along.
They will
have one-on-one talks followed by statements to the news media without taking
questions. They will then have a working dinner, the first time Trump has
played host to a foreign dignitary at a White House dinner.
"If the
chemistry is good, everything else gets sorted," said an Indian official.
"The only way is up. How much up we go depends on the leaders. If they
click, we go up higher."
While
progress is expected in defense trade and cooperation, there are frictions
elsewhere.
Trump, who
campaigned on an "America First" platform, has been troubled by the
growing U.S. trade deficit with India. He has called for reform of the H-1B
visa system that has benefited Indian tech firms.
He set the
United States on a path to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement and
accused India of negotiating unscrupulously for the accord in order to walk
away with billions of dollars in aid.
Meanwhile,
Indian officials reject suggestions that Modi's "Make in India"
platform is protectionist and complain about the U.S. regulatory process for
generic pharmaceuticals and rules on fruit exports to the United States.
They stress
the importance of the huge Indian market to U.S. firms and major growth in
areas such as aviation, which offer significant opportunities for U.S.
manufacturers.
Rick Rossow,
an India expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the
frictions in U.S.-Indian relations since Trump took office on Jan. 20 add
gravity to the meeting.
"The
meeting will provide more clarity on whether the past six months have been Act
1 in a surprising friendship or Round 1 of a protracted slugging match,"
he said.
REUTERS*
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