Sky not the limit for India-US partnership, says Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi
- IBEF
- June 23, 2023
On the 2nd day of Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi's "state visit" to Washington, DC, India, and the United States strengthened their strategic partnership by signing agreements spanning mega defence deals, semiconductors, critical minerals, cooperation in critical and emerging technology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, telecommunications, and space cooperation.
The US may introduce in-country renewable H-1B visas, and it will open consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, while India will open a mission in Seattle.
In response to a question about human rights in India, US President Mr. Joe Biden said at a joint press conference following their delegation-level meetings, "Prime Minister (Modi) and I had a good discussion on democratic values. There is an overwhelming respect for each other because we are democracies. It is a common democratic character of both our countries — our diversity, culture and open, tolerant debate. We believe in the dignity of every citizen.
Mr. Joe Biden stated that bilateral trade had more than doubled in the last decade, amounting to more than US$ 191 billion, supporting tens of thousands of good-paying jobs in both India and the United States. Furthermore, the US President stated that the purchase of more than 200 American-made Boeing aircraft by Air India would support 1 million American jobs in 44 states. He also added that “With this visit, Indian firms are announcing more than US$ 2 billion in new investment in manufacturing and solar in Colorado, steel in Ohio, optic fibre in South Carolina and much more, proving that manufacturing in America is back”.
Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi stated that in India, government benefits were distributed to all citizens without discrimination. He added that “Democracy is in our DNA, and we live it. There’s no discrimination on the basis of caste, religion or region”.
Mr. Narendra Modi stated that India decided to resolve all pending trade issues with the United States, and he referred to the technology transfer agreement to manufacture fighter jet engines in India as a "landmark" agreement. He claimed that India's decision to join the Artemis Accord demonstrated that "even the sky is not the limit" for India-US relations.
Mr. Joe Biden stated that the United States would place an Indian in space by 2024. US President Mr. Joe Biden and First Lady Ms. Jill hosted PM Mr. Modi for a private dinner at the White House.
Mr. Narendra Modi was greeted with a colourful White House South Lawn arrival ceremony, including a 21-gun salute, and then held one-on-one talks with Mr. Joe Biden, followed by bilateral delegation-level talks. Mr. Joe Biden called the India-US partnership "one of the most defining relationships of the twenty-first century.
Mr. Narendra Modi stated that this was the first time the White House gates had been opened to such a big number of Indian-Americans and praised Mr. Joe Biden for the incredible welcome ceremony at the White House, which he described as an honour and pride for India's 1.4 billion people. He also said that the United States possesses the world's best educational institutions and modern technologies, whereas India is the world's largest "yuva (youth) factory.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.
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