Modi, Biden consolidate India and US friendship to further 'global good'

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, in their second bilateral meeting in three months, have hailed the "close and enduring" partnership between the two countries; lauded the progress made in implementing the "groundbreaking achievements" during Modi's state visit to Washington in June; and told their governments to continue to transform the bilateral strategic partnership "across all dimensions of our multifaceted global agenda, based on trust and mutual understanding".

- Prashant Jha

According to a joint statement issued at the end of a Friday evening bilateral meeting, symbolising that both sides were committed to consolidating ties, Biden and Modi also agreed to resolve the only outstanding trade dispute between the two countries at the World Trade Organisation. They deepened defence ties by exchanging notes on progress, with the US Congress not objecting to the GE jet engine deal and India issuing its letter of request (LOR) for the MQ-9B Predator drones. They intensified cooperation in various domains under the initiative on critical and emerging technologies (ICET), particularly telecom networks, semiconductors, and space. The two countries also announced specific new initiatives on health and education partnership. And Modi said he looked forward to welcoming Biden for the Quad summit in India next year, reinforcing the buzz that Biden may be the chief guest for the Republic Day event. If the idea was to convey that the two sides had moved with alacrity on the June bilateral, there was enough in the statement to suggest that this was indeed the case.

Right after Biden arrived in New Delhi on Friday evening, he drove down to the PM's residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. The two leaders met for an hour and ten minutes.