PM Modi Speaks To US President-Elect Joe Biden, Discusses Covid-19 Vaccine, Climate Change

After Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in the thrilling electoral battle to the White House, this is the first interaction between the two leaders .

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday had his maiden telephonic conversation with US President-elect Joe Biden. The two leaders are said to have discussed the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and boosting strategic bilateral partnership. PM Modi also conveyed greetings to Kamala Harris for becoming vice president-elect . After Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in the thrilling electoral battle to the White House, this is the first interaction between the two leaders . Hailing Kamala Harris’ win in the polls he said, "Her success is a matter of great pride and inspiration for members of the vibrant Indian-American community, who are a tremendous source of strength for Indo-US relations.” In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said that the PM congratulated Biden on his election, describing it as a testament to the strength and resilience of democratic traditions in the United States. What Was The Focal Point Of Biden-Modi Talk? The topics covered include Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and boosting strategic bilateral partnership. The prime minister also recalled his earlier interactions with Biden, including during his official visits to the US in 2014 and 2016, it said. Biden had chaired the Joint Session of the US Congress that was addressed by Modi during his 2016 visit to the United States, the PMO said. The two leaders agreed to work closely to further advance the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, built on shared values and common interests, it added. They also discussed their priorities, including containing the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting access to affordable vaccines, tackling climate change and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region, the PMO said. The interaction between the two leaders came on a day External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar exuded confidence that the ties between India and the US will expand further under Biden's administration.