'Stronger, closer and tighter': Biden and Modi vow to expand India-US relationship

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Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is greeted by US President Joe Biden at the White House ahead of their first in-person meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Joe Biden met on Friday for their first in-person meeting since the latter entered the White House as the 46th President of the country. 

In his opening remark, Prime Minister Modi expressed hope that trade will be a major sector in this decade.

According to Prime Minister Modi, trade was an important aspect of relations between India and the United States.

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is greeted by US President Joe Biden at the White House ahead of their first in-person meeting.

Asserting that India and the US can complement each other in the coming decade, PM Modi said that there are many things that the US has which India may need and, at the same time, there could be things in India that may e useful for the US

Stating that technology is becoming a driving force, the prime minister said that the two countries have to utilise their talents to leverage them for the greater global good.

Appreciating the Indian diaspora who are contributing to the all-round development of the US, the prime minister said, "This decade will be shaped by talent and people-to-people linkages."

Image: US President Joe Biden interacts with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House ahead of their first in-person meeting.

He further stated under President Biden's leadership, the relationship between both democracies would expand. 

Prime Minister Modi also recalled his interaction with Biden a few years back on two occasions.

Reminiscing his conversations with Biden in 2014 and 2016 when the latter had shared his vision of Indo-US partnership, Prime Minister Modi said he was glad that, as President, Biden was working on realising that vision.

Image: US President Joe Biden interacts with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House ahead of their first in-person meeting.

Recalling the words that he had said about the bilateral relations between the two countries over a decade ago, President Biden said that he has long believed that the India-US partnership can help resolve many global challenges. 

Biden said that back in 2006, he had announced that by 2020, India and the US will be among the closest nations in the world.

"The relationship between India and the United States is destined to be stronger, closer and tighter; and I think it can benefit the whole world," Biden said.

Image: US President Joe Biden shares a lighter moment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House ahead of their first in-person meeting.

The bilateral talks which were held at the White House explored a range of issues of mutual interest ranging from trade to investment, QUAD to climate change, technology to defence, Covid vaccines to the Indian diaspora. 

Prime Minister Modi and President Biden covered a number of priority issues that India is really front and centre of, including pandemic response, their response to climate change. 

They are also believed to have discussed the ongoing situation in Afghanistan besides technology issues, economic cooperation and trade, as well as new areas of cooperation that both governments have been discussing. 

The two leaders have spoken over the phone a number of times and at virtual summits, but this was their first in-person meeting.