Visiting PM lauds Indian diaspora’s active contribution towards America’s progress
President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held their first in-person meeting at the White House Friday with the two leaders expressing confidence about friendship between the two nations growing stronger.
The relationship between India and the US, the largest democracies in the world, is destined to be stronger, closer and tighter, Biden told him as the two leaders sat down for talks in the Oval office.
“In fact, back in 2006, I had said that by 2020 India and the US will be among the closest nations in the world,” he said adding that Qhe has long believed that India-US relationship can help solve a lot of global challenges.
Read: Modi calls Kamala Harris an inspiration, invites her to visit India (September 24, 2021)
“The seeds have been sown for an even stronger friendship between India and the USA,” responded Modi, dressed in a white kurta pajama with a black Nehru jacket, speaking in Hindi.
“This decade will be shaped by talent and people-to-people linkages. I am glad the Indian diaspora is making an active contribution towards USA’s progress,” he said.
“Today’s bilateral summit is important. We are meeting at the start of the third decade of this century,” Modi said. “Your leadership will certainly play an important role in how this decade is shaped.”
“From Covid to climate to Quad, you have taken many unique initiatives,” he noted. “This will create a great impact in the future.”
In the ongoing decade, India and US can also strengthen their trade relationship, Modi said noting trade will remain a key area of cooperation between the two countries.
“The most important driving force in the world today is technology. Technology that will be for the use of humanity,” he added.
Noting that both India and US are committed to democratic values, Modi said for all democratic nations in the world, this decade will be transformative.
“As President, you are taking all efforts to implement the vision of stronger India-US ties which you first laid out before me when we met in 2016,” Modi said. “Under your leadership, the seeds have been sown for India-US ties to expand.”
Biden suggested that they “should explore what more we can do to fight Covid-19, climate challenge and work for a safer Indo-pacific.”
“Upholding democratic values, joint commitment to diversity, respect for non-violence and tolerance are more relevant today than ever,” he said.
Referring to the upcoming Oct 2 birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Biden said, “We have to remember the teachings of non-violence by Mahatma Gandhi as we mark his birth anniversary next month and how they apply to today’s world.”
“Gandhi Ji spoke about trusteeship, a concept which is very important for our planet in the times to come,” responded Modi.
After bilateral discussions at the White House Modi will later attend the first in-person Quad summit hosted by Biden, with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
Aiming to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region amid China’s growing dominance in the area, the Quad countries — Australia, India, Japan and the US – would announce a new working group on space, a supply chain initiative and a 5G deployment and diversification effort.
Read: Mr. PM, We Are Going To Continue Building Our Strong Partnership, Says Biden (September 24, 2021)
Earlier meeting Vice President Kamala Harris for the first time Thursday, he told her, “You are the source of inspiration for so many people across the world.”
Expressing confidence that India-US ties will continue to grow in the Biden-Harris administration, Modi invited Harris to visit India saying that the people of India are waiting to welcome her.
Modi will conclude his US visit with an address Saturday at the United Nations General Assembly, focusing on global challenges including the pandemic, the need to combat terrorism and climate change.