PM Modi, Biden Hold Bilateral Talks To Make US-India Ties ‘Stronger, Closer, And More Dynamic’
After arriving in India, US President Biden and Janet Yellen met with Prime Minister Modi held a bilateral meeting on Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that he was happy to welcome United States President Biden at his official residence where they held 'very productive' talks with discussion on furthering economic, people-to-people linkages between India and the US. Biden arrived in the national capital today to participate in the G20 Summit, which will be chaired by PM Modi. Biden, accompanied by Janet Yellen, held a bilateral meeting with PM Modi at his residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
"Our meeting was very productive. We were able to discuss numerous topics which will further economic and people-to-people linkages between India and USA. The friendship between our nations will continue to play a great role in furthering global good," PM Modi posted about his talks with Biden.
Happy to have welcomed @POTUS @JoeBiden to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Our meeting was very productive. We were able to discuss numerous topics which will further economic and people-to-people linkages between India and USA. The friendship between our nations will continue to play a… pic.twitter.com/Yg1tz9kGwQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 8, 2023
The US delegation included Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and US NSA Jake Sullivan, while the Indian delegation included External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval.
Biden took to X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: "Great seeing you, Mr. Prime Minister. Today, and throughout the G20, we'll affirm that the United States-India partnership is stronger, closer, and more dynamic than any time in history."
Great seeing you, Mr. Prime Minister.
— President Biden (@POTUS) September 8, 2023
Today, and throughout the G20, we'll affirm that the United States-India partnership is stronger, closer, and more dynamic than any time in history. pic.twitter.com/bEW2tPrNXr
India And United States Plan To Enhance Coordination In Planetary Defense: Joint Statement
In a joint statement, the leaders called upon their governments to continue advancing the India-US Strategic Partnership across various global dimensions, emphasising trust and mutual understanding.
President Biden commended India's G20 Presidency for its contributions and expressed confidence in the G20's role in achieving sustainable development, fostering multilateral cooperation, and building consensus on inclusive economic policies, as per the statement.
Additionally, President Biden congratulated Prime Minister Modi and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon's south pole and the launch of Aditya-L1, India's first solar mission. Both leaders pledged to deepen space cooperation, with discussions underway for commercial space collaboration and joint efforts to the International Space Station in 2024, it said.
Furthermore, India and the United States plan to enhance coordination in planetary defense, including India's participation in asteroid detection and tracking. "President Biden welcomed India's request to procure 31 General Atomics MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft, bolstering India's armed forces' intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities across all domains," the statement said.
Upon his arrival in India, President Biden was welcomed at the airport by Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Civil Aviation, Gen VK Singh (retd). US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti was also present at the airport with his daughter. During his visit, President Biden engaged with a group of dancers who performed a traditional dance to welcome him.
#WATCH | G-20 in India: US President Joe Biden arrives in Delhi for the G-20 Summit
— ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2023
He was received by MoS Civil Aviation Gen (Retd) VK Singh pic.twitter.com/U0qyG0aFcp
According to Reuters, the US press corps was sequestered in a van, out of sight of the two leaders - an unusual situation for the reporters and photographers who cover the US President both at home and abroad.
US President Joe Biden and other G20 leaders met in New Delhi on Friday for their annual summit, despite deep divisions among heavyweight members and China's Xi Jinping's absence, calling the bloc's relevance into question.
PICS | G20 Summit: Biden, Sunak, Trudeau & Other World Leaders Arrive In New Delhi For High-Stake Diplomacy
The Indian capital had been spruced up and partially depopulated for the event, as the host nation worked to reach last-minute agreements on contentious issues such as the Ukraine conflict, climate change, and global governance.
President Biden, who visited Prime Minister Modi in Washington in June, is placing emphasis on the importance of personal connections in successful diplomacy. However, most of their interactions will remain out of the public eye, as White House reporters accompanying Biden were denied access to the leaders' meeting.
The two leaders have engaged in more than a dozen in-person or virtual meetings since 2021 as they seek to strengthen the US-India partnership, addressing shared concerns including an increasingly assertive China and the significant challenges posed by climate change, artificial intelligence, global supply chain resilience, and other global issues.
During his visit for the G20 Summit, President Biden will adhere to the Covid-19 guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to the White House. It's worth noting that First Lady Jill Biden, aged 72, tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week. President Biden, aged 80, underwent testing for the virus on both Monday and Tuesday, with negative results.
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