New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden held a bilateral meeting in Tokyo on the sidelines of Quad Summit 2022. Both premiers discussed strengthening the relations between the two countries, the global impact of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. PM Modi said that he had a productive meeting with the US President and the discussions were wide-ranging and covered multiple aspects of India-USA ties including trade, investment, defence as well as people-to-people linkages.
The strategic relationship between India and the US is truly a "partnership of trust" and the friendship will continue to be a "force for good" for global peace and stability, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
"Our shared values, and our common interests in many areas, including security, have strengthened the bonds of this trust. Our people-to-people relations and close economic relations also make our partnership unique," Modi said in his remarks during the meeting with Biden, according to a PTI report.
The prime minister said the trade and investment ties between the two sides are also expanding continuously, although it is still well below their potential.
"I am sure that the India-USA Investment Incentive Agreement between us will see concrete progress in the direction of investment. We are increasing our bilateral cooperation in the field of technology, and also strengthening mutual coordination on global issues," Modi said.
India-US share same vision about Indo-Pacific region: PM Modi
In his televised remarks, Modi said both the US and India share the same vision about the Indo-Pacific region and are working to safeguard the shared values and common interests not only at the bilateral level but also with other like-minded countries.
"Quad and IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity) announced yesterday are active examples of this. Today our discussion will give more momentum to this positive momentum," he said.
"I am confident that the friendship of India and America will continue to be a force for good for global peace and stability, for the sustainability of the planet, and for the well-being of mankind," Modi said.
Both leaders shared their views on a wide range of issues and discussed ways to deepen the India-USA friendship, the prime minister's office said.
Committed to making US-India partnership among closest on earth: Joe Biden to PM Modi
Talking about his meeting with PM Modi, US President Joe Biden said that he is committed to making America's partnership with India among the closest on earth, saying there is so much that the two countries can and will do together.
Biden also praised India's Covid vaccination efforts during the pandemic and said that he was pleased that the two countries have reached an agreement for the US Development Finance Corporation to continue this important work in India, supporting vaccine production, clean energy initiatives.
The US President also confirmed that the two leaders have agreed to renew the Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme
"There is so much that our countries can and will do together. I am committed to make the US-India partnership among the closest we have on earth," Biden said.
On the issue of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the US President said that the two leaders also discussed the ongoing effects of Russia's brutal and non-justified invasion of Ukraine and the effect it has on the entire global world order.
The US-India is going to continue consulting closely on how to mitigate these negative effects, Biden said.
(with PTI inputs)