LIVE: 'Honoured to address the US Congress', says PM Modi

 

 

"Honoured to address the US Congress. Gratitude to all the members of Congress who attended today. Your presence signifies the strength of India-USA ties and our shared commitment to a better future. I look forward to continued partnership in fostering global peace and progress," tweeted PM Modi.

 

Technology featured very prominently in the discussions, and not just technology in a single sub-domain, but technology cooperation across most of the ecosystem that pertains to it: Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra

Micron to invest $800 million in India chip factory, says the foreign secretary

 

All the technological partnership to make chips have been discussed, says Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra

"As the world’s oldest and largest democracies and as key security providers in the Indo-Pacific, the United States and India are a combined force for global good," says the White House.

"Today’s State Visit will take US-India ties to the next level as we build the future we want to see."

 

Special Briefing by Indian Foreign Secretary on Prime Minister’s visit to USA begin shortly.

 

President Joe Biden said here on Thursday said that India and the US are collaborating to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station in 2024.

Addressing the media after bilateral talks with Modi, Biden said India and the US were collaborating in nearly every human endeavour in delivering progress across the board.

"From designing new ways to diagnosing and treating new illnesses like cancer and diabetes to collaboration on human space flight, including on sending an Indian astronaut to the international space station in 2024…,” Biden said with Modi by his side.

 

United States President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House for the State dinner on Thursday.

The Indian prime minister was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Grand Staircase. 

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"I want to thank US President Joe Biden for this wonderful dinner today. I would also like to thank First Lady Jill Biden for taking care of my visit to make it successful. Yesterday evening you opened the doors of your house for me," said PM Modi during the official State Dinner at The White House.

 

 

 

 

 

The following is a complete list of expected guests: 

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi 

Ms. Huma Abedin & Ms. Heba Abedin

Ms. Reem Acra & Dr. Nicolas Tabbal

The Honorable Mala Adiga, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady & Mr. Charles Biro

Ms. Revathi Advaithi & Mr. Jeevan Mulgund

Mr. Salman Ahmed, Director of Policy Planning Staff, U.S. Department of State & Ms. Cat Davis Ahmed

The Honorable Kiran Ahuja, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management & Mr. Robert Shriver III, Deputy Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management

Mr. Sam Altman & Mr. Oliver Mulherin

Mr. Mukesh Ambani & Ms. Nita Ambani

The Honorable Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense & Mrs. Charlene Austin

Mr. Arindam Bagchi, Additional Secretary and Official Spokesperson of the Republic of India

Ms. Bela Bajaria & Ms. Rekha Bajaria

Dr. Bharat Barai & Mrs. Panna Barai

The Honorable John Bass, Undersecretary for Management, U.S. Department of State & Ms. Holly Holzer Bass

Mr. Josh Bekenstein & Ms. Anita Bekenstein

Mr. Joshua Bell

The Honorable Stephen K. Benjamin, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President for Public Engagement & Mrs. Seema Shrivastava-Patel

The Honorable Ami Bera, U.S. Representative & Dr. Janine Vivienne Bera

The Honorable Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the First Lady

Mr. Hunter Biden & Ms. Melissa Cohen Biden

Ms. Ashley Biden & Ms. Seema Sadanandan

Mr. James Biden & Mrs. Sara Biden

Ms. Naomi Biden Neal & Mr. Peter Neal

The Honorable Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State & The Honorable Evan Ryan, Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary

Mr. Linden Prause Blue & Dr. Chollada Blue

The Honorable Lael Brainard, Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council & The Honorable Kurt Campbell, Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, National Security Council

The Honorable William Burns, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency & The Honorable Lisa Carty, U.S. Representative to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations

Dr. Ángel Cabrera & Dr. Beth Cabrera

Mr. David Calhoun & Mrs. Barbara Calhoun

Mr. Anthony Capuano

Mr. Manesh Chandwani & Mrs. Alpana Patel

Mr. Jagtar Chaudhry

Mr. Kenneth Chenault & Mrs. Kathryn Chenault

The Honorable Tarun Chhabra, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Technology and National Security, National Security Council & Dr. Aliza Hapgood Waters

Ms. Maria Grazia Chiuri & Ms. Karishma Swali

The Honorable Rohit Chopra, Director of the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau & Ms. Karen Brudvig

Mr. Michael Cohen & Dr. Daralyn Samuels

Mr. Tim Cook & The Honorable Lisa Jackson

Mr. Jim Crown & Mrs. Paula Crown

Mr. Larry Culp & Ms. Wendy Culp

Ms. Stephanie Cutter & Ms. Kellie Meiman Hock

Mr. Ashraf Mansur Dahod & Dr. Shamim Ashraf Dahod

Mr. Ronak Desai & Dr. Bansari Shah

Mr. Darshan Dhaliwal & Mrs. Debra Dhaliwal

Mr. Gary Dickerson & Mrs. Connie Dickerson

The Honorable Jen O’Malley Dillon, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff & Mr. Patrick Dillon

The Honorable Michael C. Donilon, Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the President & Mrs. Patricia Donilon

Mr. Mark Douglas & Mrs. Madeleine Douglas

His Excellency Ajit Doval, National Security Advisor of the Republic of India

The Honorable Jose W. Fernandez, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, U.S. Department of State & Ms. Andrea Gabor

The Honorable Jon Finer, Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor

Mr. Leonard Forsman & Ms. Jana Rice

Ms. Jane Fraser & Mr. Alberto Piedra

Mrs. Adena Friedman & Mr. Mike Friedman

Mr. Thomas L. Friedman & Mrs. Ann B. Friedman

The Honorable Michael Froman, President of the Council of Foreign Relations & Ms. Nancy Goodman

The Honorable Eric Garcetti, Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of India & Mr. Sean Burton

The Honorable Merrick Garland, Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice & Ms. Lynn Rosenman Garland

The Honorable Rufus Gifford, Chief of Protocol of the United States

The Honorable Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator & Mr. Jonathan Gillibrand

Mr. Anand Giridharadas

The Honorable Philip Gordon, Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor to the Vice President & Mrs. Rachel Gordon

Mr. Sanjay Govil & Ms. Vidya Govil

The Honorable Jennifer M. Granholm, Secretary of Energy, U.S. Department of Energy & Ms. Karen Elizabeth Skelton

Mr. Palash Gupta & Mrs. Khushi Gupta

The Honorable Vanita Gupta, Associate Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice & Mr. Rajiv Gupta

The Honorable Geeta Rao Gupta, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, U.S. Department of State & Mr. Arvind Gupta

The Honorable Rahul Gupta, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy & Dr. Seema Gupta

The Honorable Isabella Guzman, Administrator of the Small Business Administration & Dr. Javier Guzman

The Honorable Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence & Mr. David Davighi

The Honorable Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States & Mr. Douglas Emhoff

Mr. Roger Hochschild & Mrs. Stephanie Hochschild

Ms. Kate Hoit & Ms. Julia Tivald

Mr. David Ignatius & Dr. Eve Ignatius

Mr. Frank Islam & Ms. Debbie Driesman

Dr. Irwin Jacobs & The Honorable Sara Jacobs, U.S. Representative

Mr. Anurag Jain

His Excellency Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India

The Honorable Pramila Jayapal, U.S. Representative & Mr. Steven Williamson

The Honorable Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President and Press Secretary

Mrs. Jo Ann Jenkins & Dr. Francis Jenkins

Dr. Hiren Joshi, Officer on Special Duty, Republic of India

Mr. Nikhil Kamath

Ms. Vrinda Kapoor

Mr. Vimal Kapur

Mr. Alfred F. Kelly, Jr. & Mrs. Margaret P. Kelly

Mr. Maxwell Taylor Kennedy & Mrs. Vicki S. Kennedy

Mr. Max Kennedy

Mr. Neeraj Khemlani & Ms. Heather Cabot Khemlani

The Honorable Ro Khanna, U.S. Representative & Mrs. Ritu Khanna

Dr. Suresh Khator & Dr. Renu Khator

Mr. Martin Luther King III & Mrs. Arndrea Waters King

Ms. Billie Jean King & Ms. Ilana Kloss

The Honorable Jennifer Klein, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Gender Policy Council & Mr. Zachary Stern

The Honorable Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator & Mr. John Bessler

Mr. Edward Knight & Mrs. Amy Shepard Knight

Rohini Kosoglu & Mr. Ozkan Kosoglu

Mr. Arvind Krishna & Ms. Tarini Krishna

The Honorable Raja Krishnamoorthi, U.S. Representative & Dr. Priya Krishnamoorthi

Ms. Maria Teresa Kumar & Mr. Raj Udiaver Kumar

Mr. Vivek Kumar, Private Secretary to the Prime Minister of the Republic of India

His Excellency Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Foreign Secretary of the Republic of India

The Honorable Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President and Director of Communications

The Honorable Mitchell Landrieu, Senior Advisor and Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator & Ms. Emily Landrieu

Dame Donna Langley DBE & Mr. Ramin Shamshiri

The Honorable Eileen Laubacher, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for South Asia, National Security Council & Mr. Christopher Laubacher

Mr. Ralph Lauren & Mrs. Ricky Lauren

The Honorable Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State & Dr. Ariel Ahart

Mr. Anand Mahindra

The Honorable Joseph Manchin, U.S. Senator & Mrs. Gayle Manchin

Dr. Will Marshall & Mr. Robbie Schingler

Ms. Christina Mather & Ms. Patricia Moynihan

The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Homeland Security & Mrs. Tanya Mayorkas

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives & Ms. Emily Norris McCarthy

Mr. Doug McMillon & Mrs. Shelley McMillon

The Honorable Gregory Meeks, U.S. Representative & Mrs. Simone Meeks

Mr. Sanjay Mehrotra & Mrs. Sangeeta Mehrotra

The Honorable Robert Menendez, U.S. Senator & Mrs. Nadine Menendez

Mr. Michael Miebach

The Honorable Aruna K. Miller, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland & Mr. David Miller

Dr. Deepak Mittal, Joint Secretary to the Prime Minister of the Republic of India

Mr. Jon Moeller & Ms. Lisa Sauer

Mr. John Morgan & Mr. Matt Morgan

Dr. Denis Mukwege & Ms. Madeleine Kaboyi

Mr. James Murdoch & Mrs. Kathryn Murdoch

The Honorable Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General & Dr. Alice Chen

Mr. Sam Myers & Dr. Vicki Myers

Mr. Satya Nadella & Mrs. Anu Nadella

Mr. Shekar Narasimhan & Mrs. Charu Narasimhan

Mr. Shantanu Narayen & Ms. Reni Narayen

The Honorable Bill Nelson, Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration & Mrs. Grace Nelson

Ms. Indra Nooyi & Mr. Raj Nooyi

The Honorable Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, U.S. Department of State & Mr. Drew Nuland

The Honorable Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director of the U.S. National Science Foundation

Mr. Maulik Pancholy & Mr. Ryan Corvaia

Mr. Deven Parekh & Mrs. Monika Parekh

Ms. Tarini Parti & Mrs. Preeti Parti

Mr. Milan Patel & Mr. Vinod Patel

Mr. Sameer Patel & Mrs. Shannon Patel

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita of the U.S. House of Representatives & Mr. Paul Pelosi

Mr. Charles E. Phillips & Mrs. Karen C. Phillips

The Honorable Jake Phillips, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Counsel to the President and Legal Advisor to the National Security Council & Ms. Sheila Jaya Kadagathur

Mr. Sundar Pichai & Mrs. Anjali Pichai

The Honorable John Podesta, Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy & Ms. Mae Podesta

Mr. Robert Pohlad & Mrs. Rebecca Pohlad

The Honorable Arati Prabhakar, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy & Mr. Patrick Windham

The Honorable Aftab Pureval, Mayor of Cincinnati & Dr. Whitney Whitis

The Honorable Michael J. Pyle, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs, National Security Council & Ms. Chloe F. Schama

The Honorable Natalie Quillian, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff & Mr. Ryan Quillian
Mr. James Quincey

The Honorable Gautam Raghavan, Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel & Mr. Andrew Masloski

The Honorable Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce & Mr. Andy Moffit

Mr. Deepak Raj & Mrs. Neera Raj

Mr. Sanjay Ramabhadran & Mrs. Vidya Iyer

Ms. Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India

Mr. M.R. Rangaswami & Ms. Krisanthy Desby

Ms. Vani Sarraju Rao, Additional Secretary, Americas, Republic of India

The Honorable Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President and Director of Speechwriting & Mrs. Neelima Reddy

The Honorable Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff & Ms. Bonnie Lepard

The Honorable Michael Regan, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Mr. Punit Renjen & Mrs. Heather Renjen

The Honorable Steve Ricchetti, Assistant to the President and Counselor to the President & Mrs. Amy Ricchetti

The Honorable Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Council  Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary & Mrs. Patsy Ried

Mr. Chuck Robbins & Mrs. Paige Robbins

The Honorable Tim Roemer & Mrs. Sally Roemer

Dr. Christopher Rothko & Ms. Lori Cohen

Ms. Jeanne Ruesch & Fr. Kevin O’Brien, S.J.

Mrs. Jennifer Rumsey & Mr. Jim Rumsey

His Excellency Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Ambassador of the Republic of India to the United States

Ms. Reshma Saujani & Mr. Mike Saujani

The Honorable Steve Scalise, U.S. Representative

Mr. Michael Schrum & Mrs. Maya Rao

The Honorable Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator & Ms. Elizabeth Weiland

Dr. Sudhir Sekhsaria

The Honorable Peter Selfridge

Ms. Smita N. Shah & Mr. Maarten de Jeu

The Honorable Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor & Dr. Jeffrey Randall

Mr. Jay Shetty & Mr. Richard Slavin

Mr. Madhu Shrivastava & Ms. Sulochana Shrivastava

Mr. M. Night Shyamalan & Dr. Bhavna Shyamalan

Mr. Nat Simons & Mrs. Laura Baxter-Simons

Ms. Shamina Singh & Ms. Simi Singh Juneja

Mr. Rajesh Singh, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade of the Republic of India

Ms. Gwendolyn Sontheim & Dr. Cary Fowler, U.S. Special Envoy for Global Food Security, U.S. Department of State 

Mr. Aaron Sosnick & Ms. Paige Perrone

The Honorable Gene Sperling, White House American Rescue Plan Coordinator and Senior Advisor to the President & Mr. Miles French

The Honorable Sri Srinivasan, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals & Ms. Chitra Wadhwani

Dr. Lisa Su & Mr. Daniel Lin

Mr. Rajesh Subramaniam & Ms. Gina Adams

The Honorable Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs & Ms. Maggie Goodlander

Ms. Ellen Susman & Mrs. Whitney Gordon

The Honorable Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative & Mr. Robert Skidmore

Mr. Jim Taiclet & Mrs. Carol Taiclet

The Honorable Neera Tanden, Assistant to the President and Domestic Policy Advisor & Ms. Alina Edwards

Mr. Hemant Taneja

The Honorable Louisa Terrell, Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs & The Honorable Seema Nanda, U.S. Solicitor of Labor, U.S. Department of Labor

Ms. Nidhi Tewari, Deputy Secretary, Republic of India

The Honorable Shri Thanedar, U.S. Representative & Mrs. Shashi Thanedar

The Honorable Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Representative of the United States to the United Nations & Mr. Lafayette Greenfield

Ms. Mini Timmaraju & Mr. Ken Scudder

The Honorable Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President and Director of Oval Office Operations

Mr. Abeezar Tyebji & Mrs. Paulomi Tyebji

The Honorable Maju Varghese & Mrs. Julie Varghese

Mr. Abraham Verghese & Ms. Cari Costanzo

The Honorable Richard Verma, Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources, U.S. Department of State & Mrs. Melineh Verma

Dr. Aseem Vohra, Deputy Chief of Protocol of the Republic of India

The Honorable Lorraine Voles, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the Vice President & Mr. A.J. Smith

Mr. Sunil Wadhwani & Mrs. Nita Wadhwani

The Honorable Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota & Mrs. Gwen Walz

The Honorable Mark Warner, U.S. Senator & Ms. Lisa Collis

Mr. Casey Wasserman & Ms. Jenny Chandler

Ms. Anne Wojcicki & Esther Wojcicki
 
The Honorable Shalanda Young, Director of the Office of Management and Budget & Ms. Loyce Young-Smith
 
The Honorable Ali Zaidi, Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor & Dr. Candace Vahlsing
 
The Honorable Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, U.S. Department of State & Mr. Thomas Nemeth
 
The Honorable Jeffrey Zients, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the President & Mr. Jonny Zients

 

 

 

 

 

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrives at the White House for the State dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concludes his address to the joint sitting of the US Congress with standing ovation and loud cheers from the Congressmen.

 

"This is not an era of war but it is one of dialogue and diplomacy and we all must do what we can to stop the bloodshed and human suffering. The stability of the Indo-Pacific region has become one of the central concerns of our partnership. We share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. More than 2 decades after the 9/11 attacks and more than a decade after 26/11 in Mumbai, terrorism and radicalism still remain a danger for the whole world," PM Modi said.

 

"Terrorism is an enemy of humanity and there can be no ifs and buts in dealing with it. We must overcome all such forces sponsoring and exporting terror", Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted while addressing the joint sitting of the US Congress.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the joint sitting of the US Congress said, "Our vision is 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas'. We are focussing on infrastructure developments. We have given nearly 14 million homes to provide shelter to over 150 million people, which is nearly 6 times the population of Australia".

"We live by the motto of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'-the world is one family. Our engagement with the world is for everyone's benefit. The same spirit is also seen in the theme when we chair the G20 Summit, One Earth, One Family, One Future. Last week, all nations joined our proposal at the UN, to build a memorial wall to honour the peacekeepers. This year the whole world is celebrating the International Year of Millets, to promote sustainable agriculture," said PM Modi.

"We became the only G20 country to meet its Paris commitment. We made renewables account for over 40% of our energy sources 9 years ahead of the target of 2030. But we did not stop there. At the Glasgow Summit, I proposed mission LiFE...Our mission is pro-planet progress, pro-planet prosperity, pro-planet people," he added.

"Today, women serve our country in the Army, Navy and Air Force. India also has the highest percentage of women airline pilots in the world," he said.

"India's vision is not just of development that benefits women. It is of women-led development, where women lead the journey of progress," he further added.

 

"When I first visited the US as a PM, India was the 10th largest economy in the world. Today, India is the 5th largest economy. India will be the 3rd largest economy soon. We are not only growing bigger but we are also growing faster. When India grows the whole world grows," says PM Modi at the joint sitting of the US Congress.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a joint meeting of the US Congress, asserted that democracy is one of the shared values of India and America.

 

 

 

President Biden and Prime Minister Modi hailed the landmark signing of an MoU between General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the manufacture of GE F-414 jet engines in India, for the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Light Combat Aircraft Mk 2.

 

US Vice President Kamala Harris arrives at the US House of Representatives ahead of PM Modi's address

 

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy at the US Capitol

 

PM Modi has arrived at the US Capitol where he will address the Joint Sitting of the US Congress 

 

 

He said that as far as India is concerned, the environment and climate have an essential place in our culture and tradition. 

He said, "The environment is an article of faith for us. We do not believe in the exploitation of nature. India not only works to protect its own environment but also works for protecting the world. We are taking global initiatives for the same. India is the only G20 country in the world that kept the promise it took in Paris to protect the environment." 

He added, "We have launched an international solar alliance for the world and today several countries in the world are working with us. We are seeing that due to natural calamities, there is a huge loss to the infrastructure. We care about our future generations, so we are taking a global responsibility to support the world in the crisis of climate change." 

On being asked about measures the government is willing to take to improve the rights of minorities in the country, PM Modi said, "We are a democracy. India and America both have democracy in our DNA. Democracy is in our spirit and we live it and it's written in our Constitution,"

"So no question of discrimination on the grounds of caste, creed or religion arises. That is why, India believes in sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas, sabka prayaas and walks ahead with it..," he added. 

PM Modi said, "Today is a day that has special importance in the Indian-American relation." 

He said that America is India's biggest trade partner and both leaders aim to mark a new beginning. 

PM Modi said that the important decisions that we have taken today have given a new direction to our bilateral relationship. 

He said that the initiative for i-SAT has begun and the emphasis is on creating a strong and futuristic partnership together. 

He added that he also had the opportunity to meet CEOs where he saw enthusiasm towards India. 

PM Modi said, "PM Modi: We have taken several important initiatives on Green Energy Transition initiatives." 

As he mentioned the Ukraine war, PM Modi said that India has called for dialogue and diplomacy amid the Ukraine conflict. 

He said, "US to open consulates in Bangalore, Ahmedabad which we welcome. India to open consulate Seattle." 

"We have taken the decision to join the Artemis Accords," he added. 

In his remark, Biden said, "The partnership is among the most consequential in the world that is stronger, closer and more dynamic in any time in history." 

He added, "Our economic relation is booming, trade is almost doubled over the one decade. More than two billion dollar investments by Indian firms have been announced." 

Biden said that during the talks with PM Modi, they also talked about tragedies due to Russia's war in Ukraine, on which India has taken a neutral stand. 

Biden also noted that US and India are building regional connections. 

Biden said, "We discussed our work through QUAD. How India, US Australia and Japan can secure a free Indo-Pacific." 

Watch it here: 

 

US President Biden and Indian PM Modi will now deliver remarks. 

They will also take questions from the press. 

 

PM Modi and Biden hailed a "defining partnership" with a focus of both nations to improve and deepen relations with forward-focused future-oriented talks. Click Here to read full report

 

During the bilateral, PM Modi said, "You said, 'Our goal is to become India's best friend'. your these words are still resonating. Your personal committedness towards India has inspired us to take various bold and aspirational steps." 

PM Modi added that today, India and the US are co-operating in various fields be it "heights of the space or depth of the oceans", we are walking shoulder to shoulder. 

He added that we will "add new dimensions to our partnership". 

PM Modi said, "Over the past 10 years, the small steps have transformed into a large progress. Today the partnership between our countries is stronger than it has ever been ." 

"I express my gratitude towards you for opening the doors of the White House for the Indian-American diaspora," he added. 

 

PM Modi and US President Biden bilateral begins at Oval House.

President Biden mentioned about Indian Presidency of G20. 

Details from the talks are awaited. 

PM Modi, Joe and Jill Biden waved at the people gathered at the South Lawns of the White House. 

See here:

 

PM Modi says that the post-Covid period is taking a new face for global good, world peace and stability and amid challenging time, both the countries are ready to work together. Our strong strategic partnership is a show of power of democracy.  

He said, "In a while, Biden and I will talk about a lot of thing including US and India relations and a lot of global issues. I am sure that like always our talks will be positive and constructive. In the noon I will get a chance to address the US Congress again. 

PM Modi thanked Biden and the First Lady as he started his address. He said, "I would like to express gratitude for your warm welcome and far-sighted remarks." 

He said, "Friends, three decades ago, I came to America as a normal citizen… I saw the White House from outside then… since then I came here a lot many times… but White House's gates are opened for so many Indian Americans for the first time." 

While welcoming PM Modi, Joe Biden said that the relationship between the US and India is one of the most defining relationships in the 21st century. 

He said, "PM Modi welcome back to the White House". Biden further mentioned that he is honoured to be the first to host PM Modi on a State visit. 

He said, "With your cooperation, we have strengthened the QUAD for a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Decades from now, people will look back and say that the Quad bent the arc of history for global good." 

"India and US are working closely on eliminating poverty, expanding access to healthcare, addressing climate change and tackling food and energy insecurity triggered by the Russian war o Ukraine," he added. 

National anthems of India and the US were played at the White House in the presence of PM Modi and US President Joe Biden. 

Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden welcomed PM Modi on his arrival at the White House. 

US delegation led by Vice President Kamala Harris was present at the South Lawns to welcome PM Modi. 

Indian delegation led by EAM Dr S Jaishankar was there, along with NSA Ajit Doval, FS Vinay Kwatra and Indian ambassador to the US Taranjit Sandhu also present. 

 

ALERT: PM Modi reaches the White House. 

The White House is all set to welcome PM Modi. He will arrive in some time. 

Indian and US high-level delegations have gathered at the White House to welcome PM Modi. 

Ahead of the bilateral meeting with Biden, PM Modi tweeted, "Looking forward to today’s talks with US President Joe Biden & First Lady Jill Biden. I am confident our discussions will further strengthen India-USA relations."

-A US official said that the US and India will sign major deals on fighter-jet engines and drones today. 

The US has given the green light on technology transfer for General Electric to produce F414 engines jointly with state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics as India starts making homegrown fighter-jets, the official said. 

The official said India would also buy an unspecified number of MQ-9B SeaGuardians, high-precision armed drones.

-US chip giant Micron will invest $800 million in a chip factory in India, the US official said. 

The assembly and testing factory, which will total $2.75 billion after Indian investment, will help "build a semiconductor ecosystem that promotes supply chain diversification," the official told reporters, in a reference to US efforts to prevent China from dominating high-end technology. 

Modi will attend a state dinner on Thursday night, after addressing Congress and holding a rare press conference with Biden. His speech expected to last 30 minutes

Modi has been to the United States five times since becoming prime minister in 2014, but the trip will be his first with the full diplomatic status of a state visit.

Preparations are underway as PM Modi will be accorded Guard of Honour on his arrival at the White House. 

 

Nina Curtis, a plant-based chef from Sacramento, California, will be the dinner's guest chef when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United States for the state dinner, CNN reported quoting first lady Dr Jill Biden's office. 

Curtis will be working with White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford, and White House Executive Pastry Chef Susie Morrison to develop the menu, the report added. 

The lavish dinner is being organised at the White House to honour Modi, and the menu has been carefully curated to cater to his vegetarian preference. Click Here to read the full report

 

Scenes outside the White House is quite unreal as people are eagerly waiting of PM Modi. A woman, who was present at the South Lawns of the White House said, "I have seen Presidents of many countries visiting the US, but never seen such a large crowd gathered here to welcome them. This crowd here means that he (PM Modi) is doing good." 

 

'Modi, Modi' chants in the air as the members of the Indian community gathered at the White House lawns, ahead of PM Modi's arrival for a bilateral meeting with Biden. 

Poornima Boria, CEO of National India-US Chamber of Commerce & former advisor to the US State Dept of Commerce, told ANI, "What an incredible moment! We are proud of our Prime Minister. Never before so many people were allowed to come to the South Lawns of the White House." 

 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a crucial State visit to the United States, will deliver remarks and take questions from journalists on Thursday (June 22). US President Joe Biden will also be there. 

While talking about the event, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said the White House understands the press conference is a "big deal." 

Kirby said, "We are just grateful that Prime Minister Modi is participating in a press event at the end of the visit. We think that's important and we're glad he thinks that's important too."