PM Modi to visit US on June 22, Joe Biden to host state dinner

International

oi-Deepika S

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official state visit to the United States, which will include a state dinner on 22 June 2023.

“The visit offers a valuable opportunity for the two countries to further deepen their comprehensive and forward-looking global strategic partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday.

Announcing the visit, the MEA, however, did not mention the duration of the trip.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official state visit to the United States of America, which will include a state dinner on June 22 following an invitation from President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden,” the MEA said in a statement.

It said the visit will underscore the growing importance of the strategic partnership between India and the US as the two nations collaborate across numerous sectors.

“The leaders will have the opportunity to review strong bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interest, including technology, trade, industry, education, research, clean energy, defence, security, healthcare, and deepening people-to-people connections,” it said.

The MEA said Modi and Biden will also explore ways to strengthen India-US collaboration in pluri-lateral and multilateral fora, including in the G20.

“They would reflect on their shared vision for a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific and discuss opportunities to expand and consolidate the Quad engagement,” it said.

It will be Modi’s first state visit to the US after Biden became President. The prime minister visited Washington in September 2021 to attend the first in-person Quad Leaders Summit. Modi had a bilateral meeting with Biden during that visit.

“The upcoming visit will affirm the deep and close partnership between the United States and India and the warm bonds of family and friendship that link Americans and Indians together. The visit will strengthen our two countries’ shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific and our shared resolve to elevate our strategic technology partnership, including in defense, clean energy, and space,” read a statement released by the White House.

“The leaders will discuss ways to further expand our educational exchanges and people-to-people ties, as well as our work together to confront common challenges from climate change, to workforce development and health security,” the statement added.