Workers build the floor to a tent on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, to be used for a state dinner hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh next week, November 20, 2009. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES POLITICS)
Photograph by: LARRY DOWNING
Credit: REUTERS

Singh flew into Andrews Air Force Base near Washington at the start of his four-day visit to the United States, Indian embassy spokesman Rahul Chhabra said.

Obama is honoring the Indian prime minister with the first full-fledged state visit of his presidency including a ceremonial welcome Tuesday at the White House and a black-tie dinner.

Singh and Obama are expected to hold wide-ranging talks on issues from trade to climate change to Afghanistan, with the US leader nearing a decision on whether to reinforce the 68,000-strong US troop presence in the country.

But experts say the state visit is also largely about symbolism, with Obama eager to show his commitment to the world's largest democracy after devoting attention to building ties with its neighbors China and Pakistan.

Singh starts his engagements on Monday by meeting with leading commercial leaders at the US-India Business Council and with foreign policy experts at the Council on Foreign Relations.