‘India, US natural partners,’ says Modi after meeting with Kamala Harris

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting the United States, met Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday (IST) and delivered a joint statement on the Indo-US strategic partnership and also discussed global issues, the Covid-19 situation among others.

With PM Modi standing by her side, Kamala Harris said, “India is a very important partner to the US.”

“I welcome India’s announcement that it will soon be able to resume vaccine exports. It is particularly noteworthy and admirable that India, I’m told, is currently vaccinating approximately 10 million people a day as of today,” said Kamala Harris.

She further added, “As democracies around world are under threat, it’s imperative that we depend on democratic principles and institutions within our respective countries and around world. It’s incumbent on our nations to protect democracy in best interest of people of countries.”

On terrorism, Kamala Harris referred to Pakistan’s role and said that there were terror groups working in the country. She asked Pakistan to take action so that these groups don’t impact US security and of India, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, PM Narendra Modi and VP Kamala Harris discussed the recent global and regional developments. The two leaders also discussed the “vibrant bilateral partnership, covering emerging and critical technologies, healthcare, education and P2P linkages”.

“India and America are natural partners. We have similar values, similar geopolitical interests,” Modi said in a joint media appearance at the White House.

PM Modi also talked about how India and the US are the largest and oldest democracies in the world and share their values while cooperation is seeing gradual growth.

The two leaders also discussed the Covid-19 situation in India and the United States, including the ongoing efforts to contain the pandemic through expedited vaccination efforts, and ensuring supply of critical medicines, therapeutics and healthcare equipment.

Later in a tweet, PM Modi said, “Her feat has inspired the entire world. We talked about multiple subjects that will further cement the India-USA friendship, which is based on shared values and cultural linkages.”

“As relates to the Indo-Pacific, the US stresses on maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Kamala Harris said at a time when China is making aggressive moves in the region.

The meeting between PM Modi and Kamala Harris comes a day ahead of the maiden bilateral meeting between him and President Joe Biden and the Quad Leaders’ Summit at the White House.

(India Today)