Indian PM welcomes President Obama to India

Power embrace: U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, embrace following a joint statement and press conference at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, Monday. Obama is on a three-day visit to the world's largest democracy.(AP/Saurabh Das)

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (MUHN'-moh-hahn sing) is welcoming President Barack Obama to his country, calling the American president a personal friend and "great charismatic leader."

Singh said before a joint news conference in New Delhi on Monday that Obama and his wife, Michelle, have made an abiding impression on the Indian people with their warmth, grace and commitment to promoting relations between the two democracies.

India is Obama's first stop on a 10-day tour through Asia. He is spending three days in India, the longest time he has spent in any foreign country as president.