(MENAFN- The Peninsula) It was the "Chai pe Charcha" moment in Indian diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, known for his innovative and more personal approach to diplomatic engagements, yesterday took a stroll with US President Barack Obama in the neatly manicured lawns of Hyderabad House and also poured him a cup of tea - all without any aides.
The sight of the two leaders - one the prime minister of the world's largest democracy and the other the president of the world's oldest democracy - chatted without aides next to the flower beds for quite a while - with the riveting picture of their warmth and camaraderie relayed live on television.
Modi and Obama, who arrived yesterday morning on a three-day visit, held talks over luncheon and later with their delegations - spread over three hours.
Later the two walked outside to the Hyderabad House lawns, chatting animatedly all the while.
The body language signalled close friendship between the two leaders, and Modi later said that personal chemistry between two leaders is important to forge closer ties between their countries and peoples.
Their friendship also signalled that the chemistry that had developed between them during Modi's visit to Washington last September had grown even stronger.
The two sat down on two comfortable single-seater sofa chairs, under a curtained canopy. Modi then picked up a teapot, and poured tea for his VVIP guest, chatting all the while. There were no aides to help with the tea.
The Chai pe Charcha moment got a special thanks from Obama at the press conference later.
Modi, the son of a tea-vendor, had devised this campaign strategy after a rival Congress party leader had ridiculed his tea-seller roots.
The talks also saw the two leaders announce clinching of the agreement for implementation of the civil nuclear agreement, which would make way for commercial agreement to set up the US civil nuclear reactors in India.
Obama's visit comes just a month after that of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India for the annual India-Russia summit, which saw both countries announce several agreements in defence and energy.
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