Modi-Biden Discuss Quad, UNSC Seat Chandrayaan 3 success
KD NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, Sep 8: From free trade agreements via the Quad to supporting India’s permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council and congratulating ISRO over the success of the Chandrayaan-3 moon mission — Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden held bilateral talks on Friday evening over wide-ranging topics to deepen ties between the two nations. This is Biden’s first visit to India as the US President, three months after Modi was in America on a State visit. The last US President to visit India was Donald Trump in February 2020.
During their bilateral meeting, Modi and Biden emphasized the shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, inclusion, pluralism, and equal opportunities for all citizens, highlighting their importance in the success of both countries.
President Biden praised India’s G20 Presidency for its contributions and underlined the significance of the G20 in advancing sustainable development, fostering multilateral cooperation, and building global consensus on inclusive economic policies. They recognized the critical role of the Quad in supporting a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific.
Biden reiterated his support for a reformed UN Security Council with India as a permanent member and welcomed India’s candidature for the UNSC non-permanent seat in 2028-29.
The leaders also discussed the pivotal role of technology in strengthening their strategic partnership, emphasizing ongoing efforts through the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology. President Biden congratulated India on the successful Chandrayaan-3 moon mission and the launch of the Aditya-L1 solar mission.
Both leaders expressed support for building resilient global semiconductor supply chains and highlighted investments by companies like Microchip Technology, Inc., and Advanced Micro Devices in India.
They welcomed collaborations in the quantum domain and the signing of an MoU between the US National Science Foundation and India’s Department of Biotechnology to facilitate research in biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovations.
Additionally, they applauded the India-US Global Challenges Institute, aimed at addressing global challenges, and affirmed their commitment to closing the gender digital divide in the digital economy.
The leaders commended the progress in negotiations between GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautical Limited for the manufacture of GE F-414 jet engines in India and pledged to support this co-production and technology transfer proposal.
Furthermore, they praised the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) for its collaborative efforts in addressing shared security challenges.
President Biden welcomed India’s procurement of 31 General Atomics MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft, enhancing India’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.
Modi and Biden underscored the importance of nuclear energy in meeting climate, energy transition, and energy security needs, pledging to expand opportunities for India-US collaboration in nuclear energy, including the development of next-generation small modular reactor technologies.
As the G20 Summit began in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the importance of collective action to ensure peace worldwide. The summit’s agenda included discussions on gender equality, women’s empowerment, and world peace.
While hosting foreign delegates for the G20 summit, India showcased its commitment to combating terrorism through a unified and zero-tolerance approach. India hoped for a consensus on addressing global security concerns, particularly in the context of regional threats.
The G20, primarily focused on global economic issues and sustainability, has increasingly addressed security concerns, with terrorism becoming a significant topic after the 2015 Paris attacks. India, as the host nation, aimed to foster dialogue and cooperation among global powers to tackle these challenges effectively.
