PM Modi Leaves for the US on Historic State Visit

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while leaving for the US on a state visit on Tuesday, said his visit will provide an opportunity for enriching the Indo-US partnership’s depth and diversity, while asserting that the two countries would stand together and stronger to meet shared global challenges.

This "special invitation" from President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for a state visit reflected the vigour and vitality of the partnership between the two democracies, PM Modi said.

On Tuesday morning, Modi emplaned for the US. He is scheduled to visit Egypt after leaving the US, before he returns to India.

In his statement before the departure to the US and Egypt, PM Modi pointed out that it will be an opportunity to strengthen bilateral cooperation in forums such as G20, Quad and IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity) during his discussions with President Biden and other senior US leaders.

The prime minister said his visit will start in New York, where he is scheduled to celebrate the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations Headquarters on June 21, along with the UN leaders and international community members.

He said he was looking forward to this celebration at the same location where he had supported India's proposal to recognise an International Day of Yoga in December 2014..

After New York, Modi said he will then travel to Washington D.C.

The prime minister noted that he had the opportunity to meet President Biden several times since his last official visit in September 2021, to the US.

"This visit will be an opportunity to enrich the depth and diversity of our partnership," Modi said.

PM Modi also noted that India’s ties with the US are multifaceted, with engagements across sectors that are deepening.

India being the US’ largest trade partner in goods and services, the two countries has close collaboration in fields like science and technology, education, health, defence and security, Modi said.

He also added that the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies has led to the addition of new dimensions while widening collaboration in sectors like defence industrial cooperation, space, telecom, quantum, AI and biotech.

"Our two countries are also collaborating to further our shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific," he said.

Taking to Twitter, Modi said that he will also get the opportunity to meet business leaders, interact with the Indian community and meet thought leaders from different walks of life in the US.

"We seek to deepen India-USA ties in key sectors like trade, commerce, innovation, technology and other such areas," he said.

Prior to his departure, the prime minister said he is set to join President Biden and the First Lady for the state banquet with a number of dignitaries present.

Pointing to the strong bi-partisan support to India-US ties that the US Congress has always provided, Modi said that he will address a joint session of the US Congress during his visit, at the invitation of the Congressional leadership.

PM Modi was also confident that his visit to the US will strengthen ties between the two countries, which are based on values of democracy, diversity and freedom shared by the two countries.

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