President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden exhibited “exceptional warmth and hospitality” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his “truly pathbreaking” maiden state visit, according to Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. Kwatra told reporters in a media briefing on Thursday (local time), “One thread which ran through all the events today and also yesterday was exceptional warmth and hospitality that the President of the US the First Lady extended to the Prime Minister. It was very clearly visible.” Kwatra said that during the discussions with United States President Joe Biden on various issues concerning both countries, Prime Minister Modi stressed upon the need for the international community to recognise that the people who sponsor terrorism, support terrorism, they continue to pose a serious challenge to the safety and security of our societies and have to be very sternly and firmly dealt with.
“PM said that even after the two decades of 9/11 and one decade of 26/11, the problem of terrorism remains a pressing challenge for the global community. Clearly, what he was highlighting was the need for the international community to recognise that the people who sponsor terrorism, support terrorism, they continue to pose a serious challenge to the safety and security of our societies and have to be very sternly and firmly dealt with,” Kwatra said. The discussions focused more on- what measures do we take to expand our trade engagements both in ‘trade in goods’ and ‘trade in services,’ Kwatra said.
The Foreign Secretary told reporters that PM Modi who arrived in Washington on Wednesday (local time) concluding his program in New York, which basically comprised of celebrations of International Day of Yoga at the UN, a couple of meetings in New York the day before and a set of engagements yesterday in Washington.
He added, “Yesterday (Thursday) in Washington Prime Minister basically had two main engagements. One was an event with the First Lady on skilling for future event which was organised at one of the community colleges near Washington Montgomery Community College. And thereafter, in the yesterday Prime Minister, the President and the First Lady had a private engagement at the White House.”
On the second day, upon arriving at the Joint Base Andrews in Washington, DC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted with a ceremonial welcome and guard of honour amidst the drizzling rain. The national anthems of both countries were played at the airbase to mark his arrival. PM Modi received a bouquet from two young children and he playfully pulled their cheeks.
“The clear manifestation of its large presence of the Indian American community at the ceremonial welcome the cordiality, the exceptional warmth between the president and the prime minister all through that was very clearly visible,” Kwatra added.
He also said that the ceremonial welcome was followed by a congressional address and the bilateral talks thereafter between the prime minister and the president. “Congressional address thereafter and the dinner just a while ago it concluded,” the foreign secretary briefed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the advancements made by Indian Americans in the US on Thursday (local time), saying that they had contributed significantly to advancing the nation’s inclusive culture and economy.
Indian Americans have gone a long way in the US and have always found a respectable place in America’s Melting Pot, Prime Minister Modi remarked during his remarks at the State Dinner hosted at the White House. Indian Americans have significantly contributed to the development of the US’s inclusive society and economy. The two countries’ citizens, whom he referred to as their “most precious assets,” were present at the State Dinner that evening, PM Modi added, making it even more memorable.
Furthermore, while the two leaders spoke at the State dinner event at the White House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked President Biden to join him for a toast.
There is one more thing to accomplish tonight, so join me in making a toast, Prime Minister Modi remarked. A salute to President and Jill Biden, our great hosts.
He pronounced a toast to the nations of India and the United States’ enduring friendship, as well as to good health, prosperity, and the pursuit of happiness.