Team News Riveting
New Delhi, June 20
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday left on a five-day state visit to the United States and Egypt.
In his departure statement, the Prime Minister said his visit to the US would be an opportunity to enrich the depth and diversity of the Indo-US partnership. He asserted that together the two countries stood stronger in meeting shared global challenges. Modi said this “special invitation” from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for a state visit is a reflection of the vigour and vitality of the partnership between the democracies.
“I am travelling to the United States of America on a State Visit at the invitation of President Joseph Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. This special invitation is a reflection of the vigour and vitality of the partnership between our democracies,” he said, adding that he will commence his visit in New York, where he will celebrate the International Day of Yoga on June 21 at the United Nations Headquarters with the UN leadership and members of the international community.
“I look forward to this special celebration at the very location that supported India’s proposal in December 2014 to recognize an International Day of Yoga,” Modi said.
He will thereafter travel to Washington D.C. President Biden and he have had the opportunity to meet several times since his last Official Visit to the USA in September 2021. This visit will be an opportunity to enrich the depth and diversity of their partnership, he added.
India-US ties are multifaceted, with deepening engagements across sectors. USA is India’s largest trade partner in goods and services. They collaborate closely in science & technology, education, health, defence and security fields. The initiative on Critical & Emerging Technologies has added new dimensions and widened collaboration to defence industrial cooperation, space, telecom, quantum, Artificial Intelligence and biotech sectors. The two countries are also collaborating to further their shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
The Prime Minister’s discussions with President Biden and other senior US leaders will provide an opportunity to consolidate the bilateral cooperation as well as in plurilateral forums such as G20, Quad and IPEF. Modi will also be joining President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden for the State Banquet along with a number of dignitaries.
The US Congress has always provided strong bi-partisan support to India-US ties. During his visit, Modi will address a Joint Session of the US Congress at the invitation of Congressional leadership.
Strong people-to-people linkages have been instrumental in developing the trust between the two countries. “I look forward to meeting the vibrant Indian-American community that represents the best of our societies. I will also meet some of the leading CEOs to discuss opportunities for elevating our trade and investment relationship and for building resilient global supply chains,” he said.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence that his visit to the US would reinforce their ties based on shared values of democracy, diversity and freedom. Together they stand stronger in meeting the shared global challenges.
Modi will travel to Cairo from Washington D.C. at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. “I am excited to pay a State Visit to a close and friendly country for the first time,” the Prime Minister said.
“We had the pleasure of receiving President Sisi as the Chief Guest at our Republic Day celebrations this year. These two visits in the span of a few months is a reflection of our rapidly evolving partnership with Egypt, which was elevated to a ‘Strategic Partnership’ during President Sisi’s visit,” Modi said.
He looked forward to his discussions with President Sisi and senior members of the Egyptian Government to impart further momentum to the civilizational and multi-faceted partnership. The Prime Minister will also have the opportunity to interact with the vibrant Indian diaspora in Egypt.
