First time in 18 years, a US prez will attend a global meet of economic leaders
US President Donald Trump meets with bipartisan members of the Senate on immigration, at the White House on Tuesday. Pic/AFP
US President Donald Trump will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos later this month, opening up a distinct possibility of a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This would be for the first time in 18 years that a US president would be attending an annual gathering of global economic leaders.
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"The president welcomes opportunities to advance his 'America First' agenda with world leaders," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference. She said Trump looks forward to promoting his policies to strengthen "American businesses, American industries, and American workers".
Details of the president's trip to Davos, including bilateral meetings, are being worked out, Sanders said. "We're finalising the details on exactly when the president will be there. We don't have any commitments beyond this year at this point," she said, adding that the White House is looking forward to be part of the process.
"The president's message is very much the same here as it will be there; just the same as it was here, as it was when he made many stops in Asia. This is very much an 'America First' agenda," Sanders said.
She said Trump is "still 100 per cent focused and committed" to promoting policies that strength American businesses. "That's going to be the same, whether he's in the US or any other place," Sanders added. Several senior members of the Cabinet and administration will be part of this event, she said.
Trump pushes for merit-based immigration
Washington: With the US mulling reforms to end illegal immigration, President Donald Trump on Wednesday pushed for a merit-based system to allow only people with "great track record" to enter the country.
He also called for ending the chain migration, the fastest and easiest way to gain legal entry into America, through sponsorship by a family member, who is already a legal resident or citizen of the US. Trump has repeatedly called for the merit-based system to reduce overall immigration to the US.
"I would like to add the words 'merit' into any bill that's submitted because I think we should have merit-based immigration, like they have in Canada, like they have in Australia," Trump said during his meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers at the White House.
Will Pak confront terror groups?
The US hoped Pakistan would demonstrate its willingness to aggressively confront terror groups on its soil, amid reports that Islamabad suspended intelligence cooperation with America.
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