Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will hold virtual talks on Monday to discuss Covid-19, economy, bilateral ties, and developments in the Indo-Pacific.
“President Biden and Prime Minister Modi will discuss cooperation on a range of issues including ending the Covid-19 pandemic, countering the climate crisis, strengthening the global economy, and upholding a free, open, rules-based international order to bolster security, democracy, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” Biden’s spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said in a statement on Sunday.
The meeting will further deepen ties between “our governments, economies, and our people,” she said. “The two leaders will advance ongoing conversations about the development of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework and delivering high-quality infrastructure,” Psaki said.
In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs said the two leaders will review ongoing bilateral cooperation and exchange views on recent developments in South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region and global issues of mutual interest. The US, India and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s aggressive actions in the region.
China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.
“The virtual meeting will enable both sides to continue their regular and high-level engagement aimed at further strengthening the bilateral Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” it said in a statement.
The meeting comes amid growing pressure over India’s oil purchases from Russia. US President Biden will discuss the “consequences of Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine and mitigating its destabilizing impact on global food supply and commodity markets,” the statement said. Biden said on March 21 that India was an exception among Washington’s allies with its “shaky” response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
PM Modi had participated in a meeting with US President Joe Biden and the prime ministers of Japan and Australia in March. The virtual interaction will precede the US-India 2+2 Ministerial meeting in Washington on Monday.
External Affairs Minister and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hold talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin on Monday.
The 2+2 Dialogue would enable both sides to undertake a comprehensive review of cross-cutting issues in the India-US bilateral agenda related to foreign policy, defence and security with the objective of providing strategic guidance and vision for further consolidating the relationship, the MEA said in a press release on Thursday. “The 2+2 Dialogue will also provide an opportunity to exchange views about important regional and global developments and how we can work together to address issues of common interest and concern,” it said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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