Modi will visit Qatar on his way to the US.
By Dileep Thekkethil
The External Affairs Ministry of India has confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United States on June 7 – his fourth visit in two years, on the invitation from President Barack Obama.
Both leaders are set to meet in the White House on June 7 where they will discuss bilateral relations, and progress in ties between the two countries.
According to the ministry, the strategic and bilateral relationship between the two countries developed exponentially during the last two years under the leadership of Modi and Obama.
Modi will also address a Joint Meeting of the US Congress, making him the first foreign leader to address the session, in 2016. The External Affairs ministry has confirmed that Modi has accepted the invitation of Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.
The official press release issued by the ministry read: “The US Congress has been a source of strength for the India-US strategic partnership and the India Congressional Caucus is the largest such group in the US Congress.”
The ministry has also confirmed that during the visit, Modi will meet a slew of CEOs of major corporations and conduct discussions with them regarding investment in India.
The government claims that over the last few years there has been an increase in investment made by US corporations in India. Both countries have been earnestly striving to realize the full potential of the economic partnership.
A White House statement read: “President (Barack) Obama will meet with Prime Minister Modi of India at the White House on Tuesday, June 7.”
It added: “The visit will highlight the deepening of the US-India relationship in key areas since the President’s visit to New Delhi in January 2015 (as India’s Republic Day chief guest).
“The President looks forward to discussing progress made on our climate change and clean energy partnership, security and defence cooperation, and economic growth priorities,” it added.
Modi will join the elite group of Indian Prime Ministers to address a joint meeting of the US Congress. Before him, five other Prime Ministers – Manmohan Singh (July 19, 2005), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (September 14, 2000), PV Narasimha Rao (May 18, 1994) and Rajiv Gandhi (July 13, 1985) have addressed joint meetings of the US Congress.
Modi will also visit the Gulf state of Qatar on his way to the US.