Trump's India visit moves from pomp to trade, military talks

NEW DELHI－US President Donald Trump's two-day visit to India turned to substance on Tuesday after opening with a heavy dose of pomp and pageantry, but few concrete accomplishments were expected from the whirlwind trip.

Trump kicked off his second day on the subcontinent with an elaborate outdoor welcome ceremony in front of the grand Rashtrapati Bhavan Presidential Palace, continuing the pomp and pageantry the Indian government had lavished on Trump a day earlier.

Cannons fired as the US president's armored car, nicknamed "The Beast", rolled through the palace gates accompanied by a parade of red-uniformed guards on horseback. The ceremony included hundreds of military officials, marching with instruments and swords, as well as an official greeting by India's president and its prime minister, Narendra Modi.

A day earlier in New Delhi, at least seven people, including a police officer, were killed and dozens were injured in clashes between hundreds of supporters and opponents of a controversial new citizenship law in India that provides fast-track naturalization for some foreign-born religious minorities but not Muslims, police said on Tuesday.

There were no protests in New Delhi on Tuesday, when Modi hosted Trump at Hyderabad House in the capital for the official portion of the US president's visit to India.

"The last two days were amazing in every sense of the word," Trump said as he and Modi briefly addressed reporters. Trump said progress was being made on trade, fighter-jet purchases and energy.

Modi said he was thankful Trump visited despite the presidential campaign underway in the United States. Trump has said the short India visit was partly due to presidential politics.

$3 billion arms deal

Following talks with Modi, Trump announced that India had signed a deal to buy more than $3 billion of advanced military equipment, including helicopters.

Trump's jam-packed day in the Indian capital also included meetings with business leaders and embassy officials and an opulent state dinner.

Trump said on Tuesday he's optimistic about the prospects of inking a trade deal with India, but offering no details.

"Our teams have made tremendous progress on a comprehensive trade agreement and I'm optimistic we can reach a deal that will be of great importance to both countries," Trump said.

Modi said talks to ease trade tensions with the US would continue.

Trump has made clear that little progress is expected on the trade front, despite rising tensions between the countries after Trump imposed tariffs on Indian steel and aluminum exports.

India responded with higher penalties on US agricultural goods and restrictions on medical devices, prompting the US to strip India of its trade preferences.

Trump told reporters on Monday that he's in "no rush" for a trade agreement with India.

Eyes were also on whether Trump will criticize Modi over the new citizenship law.

During Monday's protests, Indian police fired tear gas and used canes as they charged at the protesters in several districts of New Delhi. The rival groups hurled rocks at each other and set some houses, shops, vehicles and a gasoline pump on fire. Police then closed access to two metro stations in the area.

On Tuesday, the US first couple also participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Raj Ghat, a memorial to Mohandas Gandhi at the site where the famed Indian independence leader was cremated after his assassination in 1948.

Agencies Via Xinhua