Modi-Biden Meet: Seed Sown For Even Stronger India-US Ties, PM Tells US Prez During Bilateral Talks

<p><strong>Washington DC: </strong>Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden at the Oval Office in the White House on Friday.</p> <p>Prime Minister Modi thanked the US President for the warm welcome.</p> <p><strong>READ</strong>: <strong><a href="https://ift.tt/39x7btT Modi US Visit: PM Modi Presents Special Meenakari Gifts To VP Kamala Harris, Fellow Quad Leaders</a></strong></p> <p>&ldquo;I recall our interactions in 2014 and 2016. That time you had shared your vision for ties between India and USA. I am glad to see you are working to realise this vision,&rdquo; he said.</p> <p>Asserting the bilateral summit today is important, Prime Minister Modi said: &ldquo;We are meeting at the start of the third decade of this century. Your leadership will certainly play an important role in how this decade is shaped.&rdquo;</p> <p>Prime Minister Modi said the seeds have been sown for an even stronger friendship between India and the US.</p> <p>&ldquo;I see that under your leadership the seeds have been sown for India-US relations to expand,&rdquo; he added.</p> <p>Prime Minister Modi said technology is becoming a driving force.</p> <p>&ldquo;We have to utilise our talents to leverage technology for the greater global good,&rdquo; he added, ANI reported.</p> <p>Stating the US President mentioned the Jayanti of India&rsquo;s father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Modi said: &ldquo;Gandhi ji spoke about trusteeship, a concept which is very important for our planet in the times to come.&rdquo;</p> <p>Prime Minister Modi said trade holds importance on its own between India and the US, adding the two sides can be complementary to each other in this decade.</p> <p>&ldquo;There are many things with the US that are needed by India and many things with India that can be useful for the US. Trade will be a major sector in this decade,&rdquo; he said.</p> <p>The US President on his part said the relationship between the two sides &ldquo;can help us solve a lot of global challenges&rdquo;.</p> <p>&ldquo;In fact back in 2006 when I was the Vice President, I said that by 2020 India and US will be among the closest nations in the world,&rdquo; Biden said.</p> <p>&ldquo;Mr Prime Minister, we are going to continue to build on our strong partnership,&rdquo; he added.</p> <p>The US President also made a reference to Vice President Kamala Harris&rsquo; Indian heritage during the opening segment of their meeting, IANS reported.</p> <p>This was the first inperson meeting between the two leaders after Biden took over as the US President earlier on January 20 this year.</p> <p>Prime Minister Modi will also attend the Quad Summit at the White House.</p> <p>The US President will also host the first-ever in-person Quad Leaders' Summit, which will be attended by Prime Minister Modi, his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.</p> <p>Prime Minister Modi will conclude his US visit on Saturday with an address at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.</p> <p>He is during his address expected to focus on the pressing global challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the need to combat terrorism and climate change besides other significant issues.</p> <p>This is Prime Minister Modi's first visit abroad beyond the neighbourhood since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ</strong>: <strong><a href="https://ift.tt/3lUgFVG Modi To Attend QUAD Leaders Summit: Covid Crisis, Climate Change &amp; Taliban High On Agenda</a></strong></p> <p>He is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and other senior officials.</p> <p>The Prime Minister, who is visiting the US for the seventh time since assuming office in 2014, arrived in Washington on Thursday for a three-day visit.</p>