US President Joe Biden said Thursday the partnership with India, one of the most consequential in the world, is “stronger, closer and more dynamic than any time in history.” Addressing a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, of India, after their meeting at the White House, Biden said, “Together, we’re unlocking the shared future of what I believe to be unlimited potential. “And with this visit, we’re demonstrating once more how India and the United States are collaborating on nearly every human endeavor and delivering progress across the board.” “We are doubling down on our cooperation to secure our semiconductors — our semiconductor supply chains, advancing Open RAN telecommunications networks and growing our major defense partnership with the more joint exercises, more cooperation between our defense industries, and more consultation and coordination across all domains.
“Our economic relationship is booming,” President Biden noted. “Trade between our countries is almost doubled over the past decade to more than USD 191 billion, supporting tens of thousands of good jobs in both India and the United States. “Add to that 1 million American jobs across 44 states will be supported by the purchase of more than 200, more than 200 American made Boeing aircraft by — that Air India is announcing earlier this year.
“And with this visit, Indian firms are announcing more than USD two billion, more than $2 billion in new investments in manufacturing solar in Colorado, steel in Ohio, and optic fiber in South Carolina and much more,” he went on.
“We’re expanding educational exchanges for our students, building on the record 125,000 student visas for Indians to study in the United States we issued last year, and opening new consulates.
“And today, we also talked about our shared efforts to mitigate the humanitarian tragedies unleashed by Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine and to defend the core principles of the UN charter sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“We discussed our work through the Quad and how India and the United States together with Australia and Japan can ensure the vital Indo-Pacific region remains free, open, prosperous, and secure.
“And this year under India’s leadership of the G20, we’re putting sustainable development at the center of the agenda,” Biden added.
On his part, Modi said, “Our discussions today and the important decisions we have taken have added a new chapter to our comprehensive and global strategic partnership.
“They have given it a new direction and a new energy. Friends, a trade and investment partnership between India and America is important not only for our two countries, but for the global economy as well.” “Today, America is India’s biggest trade partner. We have decided to resolve long pending trade related issues and make a new beginning,” the Indian leader noted.
“The Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technologies, ICET, has emerged as an important framework for our technical cooperation,” he said, noting that Companies such as Micron, Google and Applied Materials plan to invest in India, which “symbolizes this futuristic partnership.” “During this journey, I also had the opportunity to meet some other American CEOs. And in my discussions with them, I could feel their enthusiasm and the positive views about India,” Modi went on.
“In order to implement India and America’s shared vision on clean energy transition, we have taken several important initiatives. These cover areas such as green hydrogen, wind energy, battery storage and carbon capture.
“Peace and security in the Indo-Pacific is a common priority. We agree that the development and success of this region is important for the entire world. “We shared our views to enhance coordination with all countries in this region, along with our quad partners,” he added.
Modi started a state visit the United States yesterday by leading the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the United Nations HQ in New York; he is scheduled to conclude the visit on Saturday.
Source: Kuwait News Agency