Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump held a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/g20-summit-our-countries-have-never-been-closer-trump-on-us-india-ties-231018">"very productive and open discussion"</a> on a range of issues including trade, tensions with Iran, and 5G technology, but did not touch upon the S-400 missile deal in their bilateral meeting,&nbsp;Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.

"It was a very productive and open discussion. We will take things forward. There was very little discussion on defence issues. S-400 issue was not discussed. We highlighted the potential of cooperation in this area which was welcomed by President Trump," Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said at a press conference here on the sidelines of the 14th G20 Summit.

This comes a few days after US Secretary of State Micheal Pompeo had said the two countries should be able to provide security for themselves. It also comes at a time when the US has put forth suggestions for India to look for alternatives to the S-400 missile system, as transactions with Russia risk triggering CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act).

At the press briefing, Gokhale said Modi and Trump agreed that they would meet at an early date to try and sort out issues pertaining to trade between the two countries.

"It was agreed that trade ministers of both countries would meet on an early date and would try to sort out these issues. Both US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and their Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were in the room. Now, we expect an early meeting," he said.

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"The Prime Minister did mention in particular that we have taken some action after the GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) was revoked. That was something which already happened and now we should look forward and see how we can resolve these issues. President Trump welcomed this idea," Gokhale added.

With regards to tensions brewing between the US and Iran, the Foreign Secretary said the primary focus was on ensuring stability in the region, not just in the backdrop of energy needs, but also to ensure the safety of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf.

"On Iran, the primary focus was on how we ensure stability there, as instability affects us in many ways, not just in a matter of energy needs, but also in terms of our large diaspora in Gulf, 8 million Indians in the Gulf and economic interests. The two leaders agreed that they and officials will continue to remain in touch to ensure that the region remains stable; that is in the interest of us and the US," he noted.

Prime Minister Modi also tried to explore and leverage opportunities in order to achieve the goals under his flagship programme "Make in India" using 5G technology, Gokhale observed.

"On 5G, we were concerned to bring the focus on how can we leverage our market, our capabilities in design and technology of software, and our desire as to how to make this technology as part of Make in India. PM's real focus was on Make in India and the potential that this technology has to achieve this goal."

When asked if trade and defence tensions between the two large democracies can hamper their relationship, Gokhale said, "No one issue is going to impact the largest strategic relation between India and US which is deep and broad. We have some issues. We will work on it."

In the trilateral meeting held between US, India and Japan, Gokhale said the main topic of discussion was Indo-Pacific, how the three countries can work together in terms of connectivity, infrastructure, ensuring peace and security, and in terms of working together to build upon this new concept.

Besides India, the US and host Japan, UK, European Union, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Russia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are also participating in the Summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump held a "very productive and open discussion" on a range of issues including trade, tensions with Iran, and 5G technology, but did not touch upon the S-400 missile deal in their bilateral meeting, Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump held a "very productive and open discussion" on a range of issues including trade, tensions with Iran, and 5G technology, but did not touch upon the S-400 missile deal in their bilateral meeting, Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday. "It was a very productive and open discussion. We will take things forward. There was very little discussion on defence issues. S-400 issue was not discussed. We highlighted the potential of cooperation in this area which was welcomed by President Trump," Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said at a press conference here on the sidelines of the 14th G20 Summit. This comes a few days after US Secretary of State Micheal Pompeo had said the two countries should be able to provide security for themselves. It also comes at a time when the US has put forth suggestions for India to look for alternatives to the S-400 missile system, as transactions with Russia risk triggering CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). At the press briefing, Gokhale said Modi and Trump agreed that they would meet at an early date to try and sort out issues pertaining to trade between the two countries. "It was agreed that trade ministers of both countries would meet on an early date and would try to sort out these issues. Both US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and their Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were in the room. Now, we expect an early meeting," he said. "The Prime Minister did mention in particular that we have taken some action after the GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) was revoked. That was something which already happened and now we should look forward and see how we can resolve these issues. President Trump welcomed this idea," Gokhale added. With regards to tensions brewing between the US and Iran, the Foreign Secretary said the primary focus was on ensuring stability in the region, not just in the backdrop of energy needs, but also to ensure the safety of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf. "On Iran, the primary focus was on how we ensure stability there, as instability affects us in many ways, not just in a matter of energy needs, but also in terms of our large diaspora in Gulf, 8 million Indians in the Gulf and economic interests. The two leaders agreed that they and officials will continue to remain in touch to ensure that the region remains stable; that is in the interest of us and the US," he noted. Prime Minister Modi also tried to explore and leverage opportunities in order to achieve the goals under his flagship programme "Make in India" using 5G technology, Gokhale observed. "On 5G, we were concerned to bring the focus on how can we leverage our market, our capabilities in design and technology of software, and our desire as to how to make this technology as part of Make in India. PM's real focus was on Make in India and the potential that this technology has to achieve this goal." When asked if trade and defence tensions between the two large democracies can hamper their relationship, Gokhale said, "No one issue is going to impact the largest strategic relation between India and US which is deep and broad. We have some issues. We will work on it." In the trilateral meeting held between US, India and Japan, Gokhale said the main topic of discussion was Indo-Pacific, how the three countries can work together in terms of connectivity, infrastructure, ensuring peace and security, and in terms of working together to build upon this new concept. Besides India, the US and host Japan, UK, European Union, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Russia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are also participating in the Summit.

S-400 missile deal not discussed by PM Modi and Trump at G20 Summit, says Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/terrorism-biggest-threat-to-humanity-pm-modi-at-informal-brics-leaders-meeting-in-osaka-231033">Terrorism biggest threat to humanity, says PM Modi at informal BRICS leaders' meeting in Osaka</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity which not only kills innocents but also severely affects the economic development and communal harmony.

Speaking at the informal BRICS leaders' meeting in Osaka, Modi said that there is a need to stop all the mediums of support to terrorism and racism.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/g20-summit-our-countries-have-never-been-closer-trump-on-us-india-ties-231018">G20 Summit: 'Our countries have never been closer', Trump on US-India ties</a>

''We have become great friends and our countries have never been closer. I can say that with surety,'' said US President Donald Trump during his bilateral talks with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-holds-trilateral-meeting-with-us-president-trump-japan-pm-abe-231016">G20 Summit: PM Modi, Trump, Abe hold trilateral meeting; discuss Indo-Pacific, connectivity</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held "productive" trilateral talks with US President Donald Trump and Japanese premier Shinzo Abe in Osaka, Japan on Friday ahead of the formal opening of the G-20 Summit and extensively discussed issues of the Indo-Pacific region, connectivity and infrastructure development.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/apple-design-chief-jony-ive-steve-jobs-confidant-to-leave-and-start-own-firm-231020">Apple design chief Jony Ive, Steve Jobs' confidant, to leave and start own firm</a>

Jony Ive, a close creative collaborator with Apple Inc co-founder Steve Jobs whose iPhone and other designs fueled Apple's rise to a $1 trillion company, will leave later this year to form an independent design company.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-on-course-to-exceed-nuclear-pact-limit-within-days-diplomats-231024">Iran on course to exceed nuclear pact limit within days: Diplomats</a>

Iran is on course to breach a threshold in its nuclear agreement within days by accumulating more enriched uranium than permitted, although it had not done so yet by a deadline it set for Thursday, diplomats said, citing UN inspectors' data.

Terrorism biggest threat to humanity, says PM Modi at informal BRICS leaders' meeting in Osaka Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity which not only kills innocents but also severely affects the economic development and communal harmony.

Terrorism biggest threat to humanity, says PM Modi at informal BRICS leaders' meeting in Osaka Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity which not only kills innocents but also severely affects the economic development and communal harmony. Speaking at the informal BRICS leaders' meeting in Osaka, Modi said that there is a need to stop all the mediums of support to terrorism and racism. G20 Summit: 'Our countries have never been closer', Trump on US-India ties ''We have become great friends and our countries have never been closer. I can say that with surety,'' said US President Donald Trump during his bilateral talks with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. G20 Summit: PM Modi, Trump, Abe hold trilateral meeting; discuss Indo-Pacific, connectivity Prime Minister Narendra Modi held "productive" trilateral talks with US President Donald Trump and Japanese premier Shinzo Abe in Osaka, Japan on Friday ahead of the formal opening of the G-20 Summit and extensively discussed issues of the Indo-Pacific region, connectivity and infrastructure development. Apple design chief Jony Ive, Steve Jobs' confidant, to leave and start own firm Jony Ive, a close creative collaborator with Apple Inc co-founder Steve Jobs whose iPhone and other designs fueled Apple's rise to a $1 trillion company, will leave later this year to form an independent design company. Iran on course to exceed nuclear pact limit within days: Diplomats Iran is on course to breach a threshold in its nuclear agreement within days by accumulating more enriched uranium than permitted, although it had not done so yet by a deadline it set for Thursday, diplomats said, citing UN inspectors' data.

News brief: Big stories of the day

New Delhi is expected to strongly raise the issue of economic offenders and black money. "We are keen that the economic offenders and those who are the perpetrators of economic crime, holders of black money should be brought to book. Those are running away from India should be brought back and no country should provide them shelter," India's sherpa or the chief negotiator for G20, Suresh Prabhu, told WION.

PM Modi to highlight economic offenders, counter-terrorism issues at G20 summit in Japan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 14th G20 summit in Japan’s Osaka city from June 28 to June 29, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press briefing. Watch full video to know more.

PM Narendra Modi to Attend G20 Summit in Japan's Osaka from June 27-29: MEA