Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Thursday both India and America as ‘natural partners’. However, more than that he praised US Vice-President Kamala Harris when the two met at the White House late Thursday evening. The two decided to further cement the Indo-US strategic partnership. Narendra Modi and Harris also discussed global issues of common interest, including threats to democracy and the Indo-Pacific.
“India and America are natural partners. We have similar values, similar geopolitical interests,” Modi said in a joint media appearance with Harris. It should be stated here that Harris is the first-ever person of Indian origin to be elected as the vice-president of the United States.
This incidentally was the first meeting between the two leaders. Harris had earlier spoken with Modi over the phone in June during the Covid-19 crisis in India.
“You are the source of inspiration for so many people across the world. I am completely confident that our bilateral relationship will touch new heights under President Biden and your leadership,” Modi told Harris. The Indian prime minister also invited the 56-year-old Democratic leader to visit India.
“Both President Biden and you assumed office at a time when our planet faced very tough challenges. In a short time you have had many achievements to your credit be it Covid-19, climate change or the Quad,” Modi said.
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“As relates to the Indo-Pacific, the US stresses on maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Harris added.
She said the world is more interconnected and more interdependent than ever before. “And the challenges that we face today have highlighted that fact. Covid-19, climate crisis and the importance of our shared belief in the Indo-Pacific region,” Harris stated.
Modi also remembered the telephonic conversation he had with Harris. “We have had the opportunity to speak after you assumed the Vice-Presidency. One of our interactions happened when India was battling a very tough wave of Covid-19 infections. I recall your kind words of solidarity that time,” Modi added.
Modi said that the US Government, companies based in the USA and the Indian diaspora were very helpful when India was fighting a tough wave of Covid-19 infections. He said that four million people of Indian origin are acting as a bridge of friendship between the two countries.
Harris described India as a ‘very important partner’ to the US and welcomed New Delhi’s announcement that it will soon resume vaccine export.
On the issue of the climate crisis, Harris told Modi that the US working together with India can have not only a profound impact on people of nations but around the world itself. Harris said that it is incumbent on the two nations to protect democracies in the best interests of people of the two countries.
“As democracies around the world are under threat, it is imperative that we defend democratic principles and institutions within our respective countries and around the world. And that we maintain what we must do to strengthen democracies at home and it is incumbent on our nations to of course protect democracies in the best interests of people of our countries,” she said.