After holding bilateral talks with Switzerland President Johann Schneider-Ammann, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday left here for the US on the fourth leg of his five-nation tour.“Au Revoir Geneve! In under half a day, PM completes visit and emplanes for Washington DC,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.Modi and Schneider-Ammann headed delegation level talks 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 invited them to invest in India.Modi is going to 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, after reaching Washington, 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 artefacts 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.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.Prior to Switzerland, Prime Minister Modi visited Afghanistan and Qatar.