Ecstatic Indian-Americans welcome PM Modi in Washington
This was Prime Minister Modi’s first visit abroad beyond the neighborhood since the outbreak of coronavirus in January 2020. Upon his arrival at the airport, he was received by US Department of State officials including T. H. Brian McKeon, US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources at Joint Base Andrews in Washington DC and India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, before leaving for the US, called on US, Japan and Australia leaders. The Prime Minister also addressed the United Nations General Assembly.
He also met with Joe Biden for the first time since his election as US President.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 26 urged Indians to continue following COVID-19 related protocol and ensure high levels of vaccination against the disease ahead of the festival season. In his monthly radio broadcast, ‘Mann ki Baat’ Modi said that while record levels of vaccination were taking place in India, effort should not flag and that no one should be left out of the ‘circle of safety’ of vaccination. The broadcast had been recorded before the Prime Minister’s trip to the United States, a fact shared by him.
“Team India is creating several records daily on this front. Several records have been created in the vaccination drive which are being discussed globally,” he said, adding, “we not only have to get the vaccine administered when it’s our turn, but we also have to ensure that no one is left out of this circle of safety.”
Even after getting vaccinated, the necessary protocol had to be followed, Modi said, adding that he hoped once again that Team India would keep the flag flying high in this fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. He made special reference to the festival of Dusshera, and the festival season as well. “The whole country is also going to celebrate the festival of victory over untruth by Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram. But during this festival we have to remember about one more fight — that is the fight against Corona. Every Indian has an important role in this fight,” he said. A large part of Modi’s address was reserved for World Rivers Day, and called for collective efforts to keep rivers pollution-free. Apart from India’s traditional reverence for rivers he mentioned the Namami Gangey project for the cleaning of the Ganga and the e-auction of gifts given to him, the proceeds of which will accrue to the Namami Gangey project.
He also called for making record business of Khadi products on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary on October 2, as also the continuation of the Swachch Bharat Mission, for cleanliness in public spaces.
“Quad will establish peace, prosperity in the world”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his counterparts from Australia and Japan attended the first in-person summit of Quad leaders hosted by US President Joe Biden and said that he firmly believed that the grouping of four democracies would act as a “force for global good” and ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific as well as the entire world.
Earlier in the day, the US President Joe Biden said that the relationship between India and the US, the world’s two largest democracies, is destined to be “stronger, closer and tighter, as he hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House for the first bilateral meeting and discussed a wide range of priority issues, including combating Covid-19, climate change, trade and the Indo-Pacific.
Prime Minister Modi described the bilateral summit with Biden as “important” as they’re meeting at the start of the third decade of this century.
PM Modi also met US Vice-President Kamala Harris and Australian PM Morrison. He also held one-on-one meetings with the chief executives of Qualcomm, Adobe, First Solar, General Atomics and Blackstone and discussed a number of issues ranging from drones to 5G, semiconductor, and solar power.
PM Modi encouraged them to step up their investments by highlighting the vast opportunities in India.
PM Modi meets Japanese, Australian counterparts
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Yoshihide Suga met and discussed ways to further cement the bilateral strategic ties ahead of the first in-person Quad meeting to be hosted by US President Joe Biden.
Modi and Suga spoke in April this year and the two leaders underscored the importance of working together to create resilient, diversified and trustworthy supply chains, ensuring reliable supply of critical materials and technologies, and developing new partnerships in manufacturing and skill development to deal with the crisis.
“As relates to the Indo-Pacific, the US stresses on maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Harris said, amidst China’s aggressive moves in the strategically vital region. India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s rising military manoeuvring in the region
China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.
MeanwhilePrime Minister Narendra Modi also met Australian PM Scott Morrison and discussed regional and global developments as well as ongoing bilateral cooperation in areas related to Covid-19, trade, defence, clean energy and more, informed the Ministry of External Affairs.
India important partner to US – VP Kamala Harris
US Vice-President Kamala Harris said that India was a very important partner to the US and that both the nations working together can have a profound impact on the world.
Kamala Harris noted that the United States was proud to support India during the second wave of coronavirus.
“We had Covid-19, the kind of crisis and importance of our shared belief in a free and open Indo-Pacific region. On Covid-19, our nations have worked together,” she said. Kamala Harris also welcomed India’s decision to resume the Covid-19 vaccine export. “I welcome India’s announcement that it will soon be able to resume vaccine exports. It is of particular note and admiration that India is currently vaccinating approximately 10 million people a day as of today,” she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi complimented Kamala Harris on being the first Indian-American, woman and person of colour to take the office of US vice president.
“Your election as Vice President of the USA has been an important and historic event. You are a source of inspiration for many across the world. I am confident that under Pres Biden & your leadership our bilateral relations will touch new heights.”
PM Modi meets Global CEOs in Washington
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also met a group of five top American corporate leaders on a one-on-one basis from a range of diverse sectors ranging from drones to 5G, semiconductor, and solar and encouraged them to step up their investments by highlighting the vast opportunities in India. He held separate meetings with CEOs of Qualcomm, Adobe, First Solar, General Atomics and Blackstone.
Harris praises India’s role during C-19 pandemic
Harris, lauding India’s role in helping nations combat COVID-19 said, “When India experienced the surge of COVID in the country, the United States was proud to support India in its need and its responsibility to vaccinate its people… Early in the pandemic, India was a vital source of vaccines for other countries.”
She also noted India’s exceptional pace of vaccination given its vast population. She said, “I welcome India’s announcement that it will soon be able to resume vaccine exports. It is of particular note and admiration that India, I’m told, is currently vaccinating approximately 10 million people a day as of today.”
Modi also thanked the US for sending help during COVID-19 second wave. “I express my gratitude to the US for extending a helping hand to India when India was hit by the second wave of COVID19,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Washington DC in a joint statement with US vice president Kamala Harris.
It was also noteworthy to note that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plane en route to the United States flew over the Pakistan airspace after the neighbouring country gave permission for the aircraft, according to sources.