New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s imminent visit to the United States was a milestone in the relationship between the two countries, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said Monday as he highlighted its key components.
It is a significant and important visit, Kwatra reiterated Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar’s observations, adding there was a “genuine and widespread deep interest in the United States surrounding it”.
Kwatra said the itinerary would be “very rich in both form and substance”, as he called attention to the “leadership connect” during several programmes in the three days.
“An important element of the visit will be discussions on bilateral relationships… the line of effort, the objectives we have set for ourselves in terms of looking at the next series of transformative agenda items in years ahead. In that, the effort would also be to build a network in which these new domains of partnership would be properly positioned,” the foreign secretary said.
He also said events would focus on skilling and capacity building for the future, and that another key component would be bilateral defence cooperation.
The Prime Minister will be on his first official state visit to the United States – New York and Washington D.C. — from 21 to 23 June at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
The visit will begin on 21 June in New York where the Prime Minister will lead celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations headquarters.
Modi will then travel to Washington D.C., where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on 22 June, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a State Dinner in honour of the Prime Minister the same evening.
Also on 22 June, Modi will address a Joint Sitting of the US Congress at the invitation of US Congressional leaders, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Speaker of the Senate Charles Schumer.
On 23 June, the Prime Minister will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by US Vice President Kamala Harris and State Secretary Antony Bilnken.
In addition to official engagements, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to have curated interactions with leading CEOs and professionals. He will also meet members of the Indian diaspora.
The Prime Minister will visit Egypt from 24 to 25 June. “The visit is at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt, which he extended to the Prime Minister in January 2023 when he graced our Republic Day celebrations as the ‘Chief Guest’. This will be the Prime Minister’s first visit to Egypt,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
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