PM Narendra Modi holds first bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Joe Biden at the White House on Friday in his first bilateral meeting with the US President during which the two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of priority issues including combating Covid19 climate change economic cooperation as well as AfghanistanWhile the two leaders have met earlier when Biden was the Vice President of the country this is for the first time that Biden is meeting Modi after he became the 46th president of the US in JanuaryBoth Biden and Prime Minister Modi have spoken over the phone multiple times and have attended a few virtual summits including that of the Quad in March hosted by the US president The last telephone conversation between them took place on April 26This morning Im hosting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House for a bilateral meeting I look forward to strengthening the deep ties between our two nations working to uphold a free and open IndoPacific and tackling everything from Covid19 to climate change President Biden tweeted just ahead of the meetingAlso Read US VP Kamala Harris source of inspiration for many around the world PM ModiModi who is visiting the US for the 7th time after assuming office in 2014 had said his visit would be an occasion to strengthen the IndoUS Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest with President BidenAmong the issues also include discussion about new areas of cooperation said a senior administration official on the eve of the IndiaUS bilateral summitAhead of the visit Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the two leaders are expected to focus on further bolstering bilateral trade and investment ties strengthening defence and security collaboration and boosting the strategic clean energy partnershipThe bilateral meeting between Modi and Biden will also feature the current regional security situation following recent developments in Afghanistan our stakes as a neighbour and a longstanding and a preferred development partner of Afghanistan he said in New Delhi on TuesdayIn this context we would undoubtedly discuss the need to stem radicalism extremism crossborder terrorism and the dismantling of global terrorist networks Shringla addedAfter the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan in midAugust India has been saying that its focus was to ensure that the wartorn countrys soil is not used for terrorist activities against itShringla said the importance of smooth postCovid travel especially for students is also an important factor and is expected to be discussed at the talksBiden and Modi are likely to be joined by their senior officials including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Foreign Secretary Shringla National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Indias Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh SandhuFollowing the bilateral summit Biden in the afternoon would welcome Modi again at the White House for the firstever inperson Quad summit Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan will also attend the summitThe Summit provides an opportunity to take stock of the outcomes of the Quad leaders Virtual Summit in March this year and identify priorities for future engagements based on our shared vision for the IndoPacific region the administration official saidIndia the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free open and thriving IndoPacific in the backdrop of Chinas rising military manoeuvring in the regionThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever