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PM Modi and Joe Biden will meet later today at the former’s residence. (file)
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met United States President Joe Biden for a bilateral discussion at his residence in Delhi late Friday evening, shortly after Mr Biden’s Air Force One landed in Delhi ahead of the weekend’s G20 Summit. The Prime Minister’s Office shared photos of the two leaders holding talks on “a wide range of issues (that) will further deepen bond between India and the US”.
A number of topics, including a deal for jet engines, procurement of predator drones, and collaboration on critical technologies like 5G and 6G networks, are likely to be discussed, officials had said.
There was also talk of a major rail deal but US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan would not confirm these reports. He did, though, flag it as an initiative in which the United States is invested. “We believe connectivity from India – across the Middle East – to Europe is incredibly important and will bring a significant number of economic as well as strategic benefits to all countries involved,” he had said.
After the leaders’ bilateral meeting, the Prime Minister will host Mr Biden to dinner.
LIVE COVERAGE | Biden Arrives In Delhi, To Hold Talks With PM Modi Later
Earlier today, before he set off for India, Mr Biden posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “every time we (the G20) engage, we get better”. “I’m headed to the G20 – the premier forum for international economic cooperation… focused on making progress on Americans’ priorities, delivering for developing nations, and showing our commitment to the G20 as a forum that can deliver,” he said.
I’m headed to the G20 – the premier forum for international economic cooperation – focused on making progress on Americans’ priorities, delivering for developing nations, and showing our commitment to the G20 as a forum that can deliver.
Every time we engage, we get better.
— President Biden (@POTUS) September 8, 2023
Mr Biden will be staying at the uber-luxurious ITC Maurya Sheraton in the city.
READ | Joe Biden, In India For G20, To Stay At This Delhi Hotel. Details Here
The White House is keen to show the US can deliver for the world at this summit, which comes as emerging economies band together – in groups like BRICS – to ensure their concerns are heard.
Last month the BRICS bloc – which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – said it would welcome six new nations to the group, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
READ | 6 Countries To Join BRICS From January 1 Next Year. They Are…
Mr Biden, 80, had tested negative for COVID-19 before his departure.
This was after a medical scare triggered by his wife, Jill Biden, testing positive for the virus.
A G20 Joint Statement?
Meanwhile, on a possible joint statement after the G20 Summit, Mr Sullivan had said he could not make such a prediction, but stressed US is ready to do its part to ensure this is passed. “Will every country step up… be responsible… be constructive? If yes, then we will get a joint statement.”
One stumbling block is (the war in) Ukraine, he explained, adding the other seems to be climate change – in connection with which oil-producing nations are looking for less ambitious goals.
He also indicated efforts by China to tie access to technology to the wording of any declaration.
World Leaders Arrive
A galaxy of global leaders have arrived in Delhi this evening, including the Australian and United Kingdom Prime Ministers. UK PM Rishi Sunak spoke to news agency ANI after arriving in the city and underlined his government’s determination to crack down on Khalistani terror threats.
READ | Rishi Sunak, In India For G20, Says This On Khalistani Threats
“This (the Khalistani issue) is a really important question… let me just say, unequivocally, no form of extremism or violence like that is acceptable in the UK. And that is why we are working very closely with the Indian government to tackle ‘PKE’ (pro-Khalistan extremism),” the UK leader said.
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