New Delhi: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the United States, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra expressed that it would mark a significant “milestone in the relationship between India and the US”.
PM Modi is set to embark on his inaugural official state visit to the US from 21 to 23 June, marking the first visit since the Biden administration assumed power in 2020.
During a special briefing Monday, the Foreign Secretary highlighted the significant details of the PM’s US visit, emphasising its role in promoting new domains of partnership such as defence cooperation, trade, technology, and several other sectors.
“One of the key components which will be prominently showcased will be bilateral defence cooperation. The second key component has been strong trade and investment partnerships. Third is the technology component which interfaces with many other domains – telecom, space, manufacturing and investment,” Kwatra said.
Praising Modi, the Foreign Secretary highlighted that he is “among the rare world leaders to have been accorded the honour to address the U.S Congress more than once”.
This demonstrates a “strong and widespread degree of bipartisan support in the U.S Congress”, he added.
US Congress address to dialogue at White House
PM Modi will kick off his US visit on 21 June by attending the International Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Subsequently, he is scheduled to meet several prominent personalities and local leaders before travelling to Washington to meet US President Joe Biden at the White House as well as participate in skill-focused events.
On the second day of his visit, PM Modi is scheduled to address the US Congress and attend a Congressional reception, where he will interact with Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Speaker of the Senate Charles Schumer.
On the third day of his visit, the Prime Minister will be invited to a luncheon hosted jointly by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
In addition to these official events, PM Modi is also expected to interact with leading CEOs, along with other leaders and stakeholders.
Following his visit to the US, Modi will travel to Cairo, the capital of Egypt, from 24 to 25 June after an invitation by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who had visited India earlier this year as the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.
This visit will mark Modi’s first-ever trip to the country, and it will also be the first official bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt since 1997. The discussions between the two leaders are anticipated to center around strengthening relations in various areas, including expanding trade and economic engagement.
The Prime Minister is also expected to visit the al-Hakimi mosque, which was renovated and restored by the Bohra community.
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