Trade Talks, Not Kashmir, Dominate Modi-Trump Bilateral Meet On G7 Sidelines

Briefing the reporters after the talks between Modi and Trump, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said the two leaders had a "very warm, very positive meeting" which lasted 40 minutes.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and US President Donald Trump speak during a bilateral meeting in Biarritz, south-west France on August 26, 2019, on the third day of the annual G7 Summit. (Photo by Nicholas Kamm / AFP)

New Delhi: In the bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in French city of Biarritz , the two leaders focused on trade relations more than the Kashmir issue.  PM Modi spoke of the importance of energy imports from the US and he referred to the fact that USD 4 billion worth of imports were already in the pipeline and that would be expected to be stepped up. Briefing the reporters after the talks between Modi and Trump, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said the two leaders had a "very warm, very positive meeting" which lasted 40 minutes. This was their third interaction since Prime Minister Modi was re-elected in May this year for a second five year term. When asked about the discussion on the Kashmir issue during the talks, the foreign secretary said there was "no discussion" on it during the bilateral meeting. "Their meeting principally focussed on trade and energy," Gokhale said. During his visit to the US next month to address the UN General Assembly, the prime minister is expected to have a round table with the top CEOs of the US energy companies in Houston, Gokhale said. "The objective is two fold, first to see how we can import more energy from the US and second is how we can invest in the energy sector in the US," Gokhale said, adding that President Trump has offered to send a top administration official to the conference to facilitate it. Later, the White House issued a readout that said the two leaders discussed ways to broaden their strategic partnership and greatly increase trade between the United States and India. "President Trump reaffirmed the need for dialogue between India and Pakistan to reduce tensions and acknowledged India's role as a critical partner in Afghanistan," it added. (with inputs from PTI)