“Today, India & US are walking shoulder to shoulder in every area”: Modi

Stating that India and the United States were walking ‘shoulder to shoulder’ in every area, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told President Joe Biden that the partnership between the two countries is more important than ever in the changing global order. PM Modi, who is on his maiden state visit to the US, received a rousing welcome at the White House from President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Speaking at the Oval Office, with President Biden seated opposite him, PM Modi said, “I express my gratitude for the grand welcome and for opening the doors of the White House for people from the Indian diaspora. They are in huge numbers here to witness the future course of India-US relations.” “You have always been a well-wisher of India and have given strength to the importance of the India-US partnership,” he added. PM Modi added that today, India and US are walking shoulder-to-shoulder in every area ranging from ocean, space, ancient culture and artificial intelligence “I recall, you highlighted a crucial point, eight years ago during the India US Business Council, saying, ‘Our Goal is to become India’s best friend’. This personal commitment of yours towards India helps us in taking many bold and ambitious steps. Today, India and US are walking shoulder to shoulder in every area — be it the depths of the ocean to space, from ancient culture to artificial intelligence,” PM Modi said. Stating that the real strength of the India-US partnership was in the people-to-people ties, Prime Minister Modi said further this partnership is important more than ever “in the rapidly changing global order”. “Whenever a relationship between two countries is viewed from a diplomatic point of view, it is usually centred around the joint statement, working groups and MoUs. But the main engine of India-US relationship is our strong people-to-people relationship, whose roar we all heard outside the White House,” PM Modi said. He added, “In this rapidly ch