Mr. PM, We Are Going To Continue Building Our Strong Partnership: Prez Biden After Meeting PM Modi

“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,” Biden said.

PM Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden (PTI Photo)

Washington DC: US President Joe Biden, who hosted visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a bilateral meeting at the Oval Office in the White House on Friday, said the relationship between the two sides “can help us solve a lot of global challenges”.

“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,” Biden said.

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

“Mr Prime Minister, we are going to continue to build on our strong partnership,” he added.

The US President also made a reference to Vice President Kamala Harris’ Indian heritage during the opening segment of their meeting, IANS reported.

Biden also recalled his visit to India’s fiscal capital Mumbai as the then US Vice President.

“Indian Press asked me if I have any relative in India...Someone from the Indian Press said you have five Bidens in India...,” he said in a lighter vein, ANI reported.

Prime Minister Modi on his part thanked the US President for the warm welcome.

“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,” he said.

Asserting the bilateral summit today is important, Prime Minister Modi said: “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.”

Prime Minister Modi said the seeds have been sown for an even stronger friendship between India and the US.

“I see that under your leadership the seeds have been sown for India-US relations to expand,” he added.

Prime Minister Modi said technology is becoming a driving force.

“We have to utilise our talents to leverage technology for the greater global good,” he added.

Stating the US President mentioned the Jayanti of India’s father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Modi said: “Gandhi ji spoke about trusteeship, a concept which is very important for our planet in the times to come.”

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.

“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,” he said.

Prime Minister Modi will also attend the Quad Summit at the White House.

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.

Prime Minister Modi will conclude his US visit on Saturday with an address at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

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.

This is Prime Minister Modi's first visit abroad beyond the neighbourhood since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

He is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and other senior officials.

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.