WASHINGTON — President Obama opened his first state dinner in the White House on Tuesday with a toast for India's prime minister in which he called the United States' relationship with India a "great and growing partnership."
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh returned the praise.
"We are embarking on a new phase of our partnership. We should build on common values and interests to realize the enormous potential and promise of our partnership," Singh said.
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After greeting Singh and his wife, Gursharan Kaur, at the North Portico, the Obamas and their guests, including prominent Indian Americans and a sprinkling of Hollywood moguls, went to dinner under a white tent on the South Lawn.
They dined on vegetarian fare prepared with the help of a top New York chef at tables decorated in gold, apple green and purple colors, with a mix of tableware from three presidential china collections.
It was a glittery assembly, a total of 339 guests; black-tie mingled with turbans, sparkly evening gowns mixed with bright saris.