US Visit | PM Modi Reaches Washington DC Ahead of Quad Summit, UNGA Address
Catch all live updates of PM Narendra Modi's US visit here.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 23 September, arrived at Washington DC for his three-day visit to Washington DC. He landed at Joint Base Andrews, a US military facility in nearby Maryland.
PM Modi, who had departed from New Delhi at 11 am IST on Wednesday, is scheduled to meet with a number of personages in the US, including US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Earlier on Wednesday, he addressed the global COVID-19 summit hosted by President Joe Biden, and spoke about the need to focus on addressing the pandemic’s economic effects. "To that end, international travel should be made easier, through mutual recognition of vaccine certificates," he said.
Narendra Modi will be meeting Kamala Harris to explore opportunities for cooperation between India and the US, particularly in the area of science and technology
He will also hold bilateral meetings with Australian PM Scott Morrison and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga.
Modi had last visited the US in September 2019, when he and former US President Donald Trump had addressed the 'Howdy Modi' event in Houston.
Meetings Lined up for PM Modi on Day 1 of Visit
On Thursday, PM Modi will hold meetings with Australian counterpart Scott Morrison, US Vice President Kamala Harris and the select heads of corporates that have the potential to invest significantly in India.
ANI reported, quoting sources, that PM Modi will start his day by meeting with select heads of corporates in the United States. The CEOs will include the heads of Qualcomm, Adobe, Blackstone, General Atomics and First Solar.
Our Diaspora is Our Strength: PM Modi in Washington
PM Modi received a warm welcome from some members of the Indian community at Joint Base Andrews in Washington DC. PM Modi was greeted by a crowd of Indian Americans, who were chanting his name and waving the Indian flag, reported ANI.
PM Modi Arrives in Washington DC
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 23 September, arrived at Joint Base Andrews, Washington DC for his 3-day visit.
PM Modi was received by India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, along with the Defence attache including Brigadier Anoop Singhal, Air Commodore Anjan Bhadra, naval attache Commodore Nirbhaya Bapna and US Deputy Secretary of State for Management & Resources TH Brian McKeon, reported ANI.
Long Flight Means Opportunity to Go Through Papers: Modi En Route to US
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is presently on his way to the US, took to Twitter to share a photo of himself on board the aircraft and say:
"A long flight also means opportunities to go through papers and some file work."
'International Travel Should Be Made Easier, Through Mutual Recognition of Vaccine Certificates': PM Modi at Global COVID-19 Summit
Speaking at the global COVID-19 summit hosted by President Joe Biden, PM Modi stated, "The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented disruption and it is not yet over. Much of the world is still to be vaccinated. That is why this initiative by President Biden is timely and welcome."
"We also need to focus on addressing the pandemic’s economic effects. To that end, international travel should be made easier, through mutual recognition of vaccine certificates," he further stated.
PM Modi's Visit to Have 6 Broad Elements: India's Envoy to US
PM's visit to US has six broad elements, India's Envoy to US Taranjit S Sandhu informed ANI. These, as per Sandhu, are:
Bilateral meeting with US President Biden
Meeting with VP Kamala Harris
Quad Summit
Interactions with PMs of Australia and Japan separately
Interaction with select industry leaders
UN section
"As far as Quad is concerned, it's a like-minded group which has come together to focus on international issues and problems..." he was quoted as saying by ANI.
"As you are aware, we are still under pressure of COVID and US particularly has that but President Biden has gone ahead & taken the initiative to invite PM Modi for his first one-on-one interaction," Sandhu observed.
'My Visit Will Strengthen Strategic Partnership With USA': Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit, will be attending the first in-person summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), a grouping that comprises of US, Japan, India, and Australia.
"My visit to the US would be an occasion to strengthen the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with USA, consolidate relations with our strategic partners – Japan and Australia – and to take forward our collaboration on important global issues," Modi said ahead of his visit.
The prime minister, on the last day of his visit, will be addressing the United National General Assembly in New York. His address will focus on the global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, terrorism, and climate change, among other issues.
Modi to Meet Biden, Apple CEO: Here's A Look at His Itinerary
Here's what Narendra Modi's itinerary will look like on his US trip:
22 September: Modi is expected to attend a United National General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York.
23 September: Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
He is also, according to ANI, slated to meet global CEOs in Washington DC. The Heads of Qualcomm, Adobe, First Solar, General Atomics and Blackstone will participate in the meeting.
In addition, he will be meeting top executives of certain American companies, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, ET reported.
The prime minister is, further, expected to attend a gala dinner hosted by President Joe Biden – an event at which Vice President Kamala Harris is likely to be present.
24 September: Modi will take part in a bilateral meeting with Biden. He will also attend a meeting of the QUAD countries – consisting of India, Japan, US, and Australia.
25 September: The prime minister will return to New York, where he is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly.
The Prime Minister will return to India on 27 September.
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