PM Modi holds 'productive' bilateral talks with US Prez Joe Biden; private dinner follows next

Biden's plane - Air Force One - touched down at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport shortly before 7 pm.

The Prime Minister's Office shared photos of the two leaders holding talks on "a wide range of issues (that) will further deepen the bond between India and the US".

Calling their meeting 'productive', PM Modi said: "We were able to discuss numerous topics which will further economic and people-to-people linkages between India and USA. The friendship between our nations will continue to play a great role in furthering global good."

The bilateral meeting will be followed by a dinner hosted by PM Modi at his residence.

Earlier in the day, before setting off for India, Biden posted on X (formerly Twitter) that "every time we (the G20) engage, we get better".

"I'm headed to the G20 - the premier forum for international economic cooperation... focused on making progress on Americans' priorities, delivering for developing nations, and showing our commitment to the G20 as a forum that can deliver," he said.

India is hosting the 18th G-20 Summit in New Delhi beginning Saturday as the global leaders are arriving in the city to attend the Summit.

More than 30 heads of state and top officials from the European Union, invited guest countries, and 14 heads of international organizations are expected to attend.

Ahead of the summit, strict traffic curbs have been put in place to restrict the movement of vehicles in the area where the G20 summit venue and hotels for delegates are located.