
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took his charm offensive to New Delhi on Saturday, arriving in India with his photogenic family for a week of talks with the country's leader.

Things didn't get off to a great start though, with Twitter commentators quick to point out that the country's PM Narendra Modi failed to meet them at the airport and instead sent a junior agriculture minister.

It was a far cry from when Obama and leaders of Israel and UAE made the trip to the world's largest democracy with Modi patiently waiting for them on the tarmac.

The trip signals Trudeau's intention to improve Canada's relationship with India amid allegations from Indian officials that Canada has been too comfortable with Sikh separatists who want an independent Punjab carved out of northwestern India.

While it’s long been a matter of contention between the two countries, the fact Trudeau has a large contingent of Sikhs in his cabinet, all of whom are traveling with him, may be adding to the tension.

The two countries also trade meagerly, exchanging around $8billion of goods per year, and Trudeau has not been to India since he took office despite the 1.4million Indians who live in Canada.

On Saturday night, he started by bowing his head and clasping his hands in respect while disembarking his aircraft.

Laying on the charm: Justin Trudeau arrived in New Delhi on Saturday night with his wife Sophie and their three children, three-year-old Hadrien, nine-year-old Ella-Grace and 10-year-old Xavier

The family received a warm welcome from their hosts and reciprocated with keen waves and wide smiles as they disembarked their plane

They bounded down the steps to greet crowds who had waited.

Hadrien, who was dressed sweetly in a denim button down, stole the show as he struggled with a large bouquet of flowers that was given to the family by someone in the crowd.

His father laughed and smiled as they made their way slowly as a family to a waiting car to be whisked away.

Trudeau will spend the week talking with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about how they can boost their relationship.

They will focus talks on civil nuclear cooperation, space, defense, energy and education.

During his visit, Trudeau will meet with top business leaders in Mumbai and visit key Indian monuments, including the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Golden Temple in Amritsar and the Jama Masjid in New Delhi.

As Ella-Grace and Xavier bounded down the steps, three-year-old Hadrian struggled to reach the rails

The youngest Trudeau took his time coming down the steps under the watchful eye of his mother who had dressed patriotically in an all-red outfit

For Hadrien, the long descent from the plane was worth it. He was delighted to receive a large bouquet of flowers once firmly on the ground

The three-year-old smiled as he struggled to carry his bouquet towards the family's waiting car

Sophie kept hold of a smaller bouquet and guided the youngster along as he maneuvered the blooms under one arm, to the frustration of his impatient-looking older sister

Snub? There was no sign of PM Modi on the red carpet when the Trudeaus arrived. Instead the family was greeted by a junior Indian minister

Trudeau will not sit down with India's PM until Monday

President is greeted by PM Modi at Palam Airport, New Delhi January 27, 2015. Pictured right is Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu being warmly received by PM Modi in India on 14th January 2018

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan after the prince arrived at an air force base in New Delhi on February 10, 2016

At Davos last month, while President Donald Trump supported new tariffs on imports, Trudeau and Modi came out forcefully against a drift toward protectionism in the global economy.

In 2017, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and India amounted to $8.4 billion, split equally between exports to and imports from India, according to Indian media.

Canada mainly imports pearls, organic chemicals, pharmaceutical products, textiles, bicycles and motorcycles from India.

It exports vegetables, paper, fertilizers, wood pulp, iron and steel and precious stones to India.

Before his talks with Modi begin, he will visit the famous Taj Mahal with his family on Sunday.

The visit comes three years into Trudeau's leadership and it is his first despite the large contingency of Indians who live in Canada