NEW DELHI (CU)_Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden set up an ambitious agenda to strengthen relations between their countries during a phone call on Monday (Feb 8).
The two leaders committed to work closely in their nations’ fight against the pandemic, and to renew their partnership on climate change.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Modi and President Biden reiterated the importance of working with like-minded nations in order to ensure “a rules-based international order and a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region”.
The Indian Prime Minister is the first foreign leader to have spoken to President Biden beyond the neighbours and key NATO allies of the US, which reflects on the significance the Biden administration attaches to ties with India.
The two leaders also agreed to continue close cooperation to stand together against the scourge of global terrorism, and to rebuild the global economy in a way that benefits the people of both countries.
Following his Presidential inauguration last month, President Biden so far has had phone calls with nine foreign leaders.
As per tradition, the new American President’s first phone calls were to the leaders of the two neighbouring countries Canada and Mexico. Subsequently, he spoke to the leaders of close American allies, including Britain, Germany, France, Australia and South Korea. President Biden also spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was necessitated due to the extension of the New Start Treaty for another five years.
According to the White House, during his call with the Indian Prime Minister, President Biden expressed his desire to defend democratic institutions and norms around the world, adding that the shared commitment towards democratic values is the bedrock for the US-India relationship.
“We have an ambitious agenda for cooperation, and you will see active engagement in the days ahead,” India’s Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, said after the phone call between the two leaders.
He noted that the two leaders are committed to advancing the strategic partnership between India and the United States, and intend to work closely together on a range of regional and global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recovery, fight against terrorism, climate change and clean energy.
The call on Monday was the second phone call between President Biden and PM Modi after the November 3rd US presidential elections.
