New Delhi: Defence ties, critical technology and trade and investment are set to figure prominently in the agenda of talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, during the PM’s first-ever state visit to the US, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said today.
Briefing the media ahead of the PM’s US visit that begins tomorrow, the Foreign Secretary said that a key aspect of PM Modi’s US visit is the “wide bipartisan support in the US Congress to the strengthening of the relationship”.
Outlining the key elements of the visit, he said that the political connect between the two sides has seen “high and intense level of connect”, with three high profile visits to India recently, including that of the US NSA Jake Sullivan last week, and prior to that of the US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, and earlier that of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The two countries share a strong trade and investment partnership with the trade touching USD 200 billion.
The technology component is a very important part of the relationship, he said, and added that technology interfaces with many domains, including in telecom, space, manufacturing and in triangulation of tech manufacturing and investment.
“Critical and emerging tech are areas of recent focus, and would provide exciting opportunities in the days ahead,” FS Kwatra added.
“The bilateral defence relationship is to be showcased prominently during the visit. It has been a critical part of our engagement; and a new element this year is the Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap on which we expect progress. The defence industries on both sides can partner closely in co-production and co-development, and also in a manner that the supply chains in this field could talk to each other far more intensely,” he added.
On the PM’s meeting with the Indian diaspora, he said: “Another key component, a strong driver of the relationship, is the diaspora. We have close to five million strong Indian diaspora in US which contributes enormously and richly to the growth, and the substance and strength of the relationship.”
The two sides would also enhance the partnership in skilling and capacity building domains.
Giving the itinerary of the visit, the FS said that this is PM Modi’s first official state visit. PM Modi has visited the US six times earlier in bilateral and multilateral formats.
The first leg of the visit will be in New York, where on June 21 morning he will join the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the UN Headquarters.
While in New York, the PM will meet a cross-section of prominent personalities and leaders. He will leave for Washington the same day.
On June 21 in Washington, the PM will attend an event focused on Skilling for the Future, “to essentially bring out the key complementarities in skilling and capacity building”.
There will also be a private engagement between President Biden and PM Modi that evening.
On June 22 the two sides will hold normal bilateral meetings.
There would be a ceremonial welcome for the PM at the White House, followed by a set of bilateral meetings between the two leaders and their accompanying delegations.
PM Modi will also give a scheduled address to the US Congress and attend the Congressional reception.
There would be a ceremonial State Dinner hosted by the US President and his wife Jill Biden that evening.
On June 23, the PM would begin the day by holding one-on-one interactions with select CEOs throughout the day.
PM Modi will be hosted by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a State luncheon, which is part of the official state visit, the FS said.
PM Modi will then interact with prominent professional personalities and a cross-section of society at the Kennedy Centre.
His final engagement would be an interaction with the Indian community leaders, before he departs for Egypt on a State Visit.
UNI
