02 April,2009 06:24 PM IST | | IANS
US President Barack Obama walked up to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the reception hosted by British Premier Gordon Brown and officials said the two leaders talks animatedly for close to 10 minutes.
This was their meeting since since Obama assumed office on January 20.
A member of the Indian delegation said, "President Obama walked up to the prime minister and spoke to him for almost 10 minutes."
The interaction on Wednesday set the stage for the bilateral meeting between the two leaders and their delegations later on Thursday.
ALSO READ
Manmohan Singh, Montek Ahluwalia came through lateral entry: Law minister reminds Rahul Gandhi
Central Railway continues work on Thane platform on 2nd day of 63-hr mega block
Central Railway's 63-hour mega block causes delays, crowding in Mumbai locals
Modi first PM to ‘lower dignity’ of public discourse: Manmohan Singh
Rahul Gandhi has same agenda on minorities as Manmohan Singh: BJP leader Tawde
Diplomatic sources said several world leaders were particularly keen to listen to the Indian prime minister, the Oxford-educated economist who had fashioned the country's economic reforms in the early 1990s as finance minister.
"Over the last five years, our PM has emerged as a highly respected leader at international gatherings," a diplomat said, maintaining that Manmohan Singh's views were considered seriously by all the G20 leaders.
At the reception hosted by Brown, the prime minister said the rise of protectionist sentiment in the industrialised world was an issue of vital concern to developing countries.
