1/26/2015 OnhighprofileIndiavisit,ObamasaysprogressmadeonnuclearstickingpointCNN.com

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On high-profile India visit, Obama says progress madeon nuclear sticking pointBy Kevin Liptak, CNN Updated 1559 GMT (2359 HKT) January 25, 2015

Story highlights

Obama hopes to capitalize on his relationship

American President visits world's largest democracy 02:37

New Delhi (CNN)The leaders of India and theUnited States, testing the diplomatic extent oftheir personal friendship, said on Sunday they'dmade progress on a deal allowing U.S. firms to

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with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

India and the United States have sharedsometimes frosty relations

The United States wants to ease India awayfrom its use of Russian-produced militaryweapons

cooperate on civilian nuclear power plants inIndia.

U.S. companies are reluctant to constructnuclear plants in India if they aren't shielded fromliability after accidents, an assurance Indianlawmakers have been unwilling to extend.President Barack Obama and Prime MinisterNarendra Modi stopped short of announcing afull-fledged deal but did say they'd movedforward on the issue.

"This is an important step that shows how we can work together to elevate our relationship,"Obama said during a press conference that came after bilateral talks with Modi.

Obama touched down in India on Sunday for a truncated state visit that has officials claiminga new era in U.S.-India relations is dawning.

Obama hopes to capitalize on his young friendship with Modi to achieve diplomatic progresson climate, defense and trade -- progress that has eluded U.S. leaders in the past. In asurprise break in protocol, Modi greeted Obama on the tarmac on his arrival in New Delhi andwrapped him in a hug.

After a two-leg, 16-hour journey, Air Force One landed in New Delhi under midmorning fogaround 10 a.m. (11:30 p.m. Saturday ET). The overcast Indian capital was heavily fortified withextra security for the President's trip; police and military guards armed with machine gunspatrolled roads and manned checkpoints throughout the city. Highways were shut well aheadof Obama's arrival.

The normally chaotic traffic scene was unusually serene hours before Obama's landing. Eventhe city's stray dogs and monkeys were being herded away from the routes Obama'smotorcade was scheduled to drive.

A formal military presentation greeted Obama at the Indian President's residence, and Obamajoined Modi to lay a wreath at a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

On Monday, Obama will be the first U.S. leader to headline India's annual Republic Dayparade, a colorful military spectacle featuring marching bands, dancing and lots of heavymachinery rolling down the stately Rajpath Boulevard.

The White House says the invitation to act as the parade's honored guest came as a majorshock and could open the way for new cooperation between New Delhi and Washington.Obama himself sees the invitation as a "transformational" moment for U.S.-India relations,according to his aides.

"I think it goes without saying that this is a seminal moment in the bilateral relationship, andthat the extension of this invitation by the Prime Minister really continues to set a different

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tone for our reinvigorated partnership," said Phil Reiner, senior director for South Asia onObama's National Security Council staff.

But even the parade itself will act as a reminder of the decades of sometimes tense relationsbetween the two countries. A military demonstration at heart, the vehicles and equipmentparading before Obama on Monday will be mostly Russian-made, a vestige of India's stanceduring the Cold War.

Russia remains India's largest supplier of weapons, and while their share is steadilydecreasing, Russian military imports still amount to three-quarters of India's stockpile.

With U.S.-Russia relations worsening to Cold War levels, Obama hopes to balance Moscow'sinfluence in India during his visit this week.

Officials also hope to exact climate commitments in New Delhi, where air quality warningsremained in place even during Obama's visit. That's a contrast to Obama's trip late last yearto Beijing, where roads were cleared and the air cleansed of its usual smog ahead of thePresident's arrival.

In China, Obama was able to secure historic carbon reduction promises from the new Premierthere, though expectations for similar achievements in India were more measured.

Indians working in the capital city on Sunday said they regarded Obama's visit as a highlysymbolic gesture from the United States -- one they said was well-received, despite thesecurity headaches that his arrival caused.

Local television networks profiled weavers preparing elaborate gold-threaded saris for firstlady Michelle Obama, who is accompanying her husband for the three-day state visit.

The pair had planned to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra, whose origins as a memorial to a Mughalemperor's wife have made it a romantic draw for couples. The side trip was nixed, however,so Obama and the first lady could fly to Riyadh to pay respects to the late Saudi KingAbdullah.

Opinion: Modi and Obama's surprising rapport

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