Modi in US Day 3 highlights: ‘Indians are brilliant in every field…not just Spelling Bee,’ says PM

Live updates on PM Modi's fourth and final day of state visit to the United States can be followed here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his historic-address in the US Congress on Thursday discussed several key points, emphasising India's commitment to climate goals, women's empowerment, the fight against terrorism, and other important issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the first Indian prime minister to address the joint session of the US Congress twice. After Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Modi is the second international leader to be granted the honour more than once.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held bilateral discussions with US president Joe Biden in which technology cooperation featured prominently. The bilateral talks were followed by PM Modi's address to the joint session of the US Congress, and the high-profile state dinner, attended by over 400 dignitaries. Read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received "exceptional warmth and hospitality" extended to him from United States President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden during his "truly pathbreaking" first state visit, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden discussed all pressing challenges confronting the global community in their talks and exchanged views on how India and the US could cooperate to mitigate, address and deal with terrorism comprehensively, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra has said.

Kwatra briefed reporters on the outcomes of the second day of Modi's visit that began here with a grand ceremonial welcome on the South Lawn of the White House.

It was followed by bilateral discussions, remarks to the press, an address to the joint session of the US Congress and the state dinner where high-profile invited guests included Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Alphabet chief Sundar Pichai.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet chief executives of Indian and American firms today at the White House to discuss innovation, investment, and manufacturing in a variety of technology sectors, including Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, and space. Read more

Applauding the Indian community in the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that they are brilliant in every field, not just in Spelling Bee and have played a big role in the country’s relationship with America.

Prime Minister Modi's remarks on Thursday came during his address to a joint session of the US Congress. He attributed a big part of the success of India-US ties to Indian-Americans.

Representing 1.4 billion Indians, Modi said it is always a great honour and an exceptional privilege to address the US Congress twice. This is the second time that the prime minister has addressed the US Congress, the first time being in 2016.

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States resulted in significant outcomes in areas of defence, renewable energy and critical minerals cooperation.

"Prime Minister's visit to the United States resulted in significant outcomes in areas such as defence, renewable energy and critical minerals cooperation. India and US cracked several deals on Space and Defence. MoU on Semiconductor Supply Chain and Innovation Partnership will not only promote research but also business opportunities," said Smriti Irani.

Three months, over a dozen drafts, sleepless nights, extensive internal consultations, virtual and in person negotiations, a bilateral process marked by remarkable cordiality and warmth, a mutual germination of ideas, and finally, a problem of plenty. Read more

The big announcements by players like Micron, Applied Materials and Lam Research during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US visit are a "significant and meaningful milestone" in expansion of semiconductor ecosystem in the country, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Friday.

He also said the three proposals in the high tech arena strengthen the two countries' resolve to shape the future of technology, products and services.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first State visit to the US will take bilateral ties in areas of space, defence, emerging technology and supply chains to the next level, Vice President Kamala Harris has said.

Modi became the first Indian leader to address the joint session of the US Congress twice on Thursday. He first addressed a joint meeting of the US Congress in 2016.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India has taken a "big leap forward" in space cooperation after it joined the Artemis Accords, which advance a common vision of space exploration for the benefit of all humankind.

Grounded in the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 (OST), the Artemis Accords are a non-binding set of principles designed to guide civil space exploration and use in the 21st century. It is an American-led effort to return humans to the moon by 2025, with the ultimate goal of expanding space exploration to Mars and beyond.

On Thursday, India decided to join the Artemis Accords.

India and the US will focus on measures to facilitate greater technology sharing, co-production opportunities with semiconductor, 5G and 6G telecom network, quantum and high-end computing, said a joint statement released on Friday.

The statement dated June 22 released after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden in the US said that both governments have committed to promote policies and adapt regulations to facilitate greater technology sharing, co-development, and co-production opportunities between US and Indian industry, government, and academic institutions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded the members of the US Congress for coming together to celebrate their country's ties with India, saying there must be a contest of ideas at home but people must also come together as one while speaking for the nation.

Modi's remarks in his address to a joint session of the US Congress on Thursday came against the backdrop of Rahul Gandhi's frequent swipes at his government during his visits abroad, which the ruling BJP has often projected as the opposition leader's bid to malign the country from foreign soil to target the central government.

The prime minister's remarks were perceived to be an attack on the Congress leader.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Narendra Modi hailed a new era in their countries' relationship after the White House rolled out the red carpet for the Indian prime minister on Thursday, touting deals on defense and commerce aimed at countering China's global influence.

“Two great nations, two great friends, and two great powers. Cheers," Biden told Modi in a toast at a state dinner. Modi said in reply: “You are soft spoken, but when it comes to action, you are very strong.”

Though the countries are not formal treaty-bound allies and India has long relished its independence, Washington wants Delhi to be a strategic counterweight to China. While neither leader criticized Beijing directly in official statements, they alluded to the Xi Jinping-led government.

It was a privilege to welcome Prime Minister @narendramodi to the U.S. Capitol, one of the greatest symbols of democracy in the world.

I look forward to increased economic and national security ties between our two great nations, tweets speaker Kevin McCarthy

Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official state visit to the US, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the Prime Minister's efforts towards the independent foreign policy have made the world see India as a trusted partner.

"In the last nine years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts towards the independent foreign policy with importance to national interest have made the world see India as a trusted partner," Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

The ongoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to US and the joint statement released in Washington today show that the Indian leader has been able to connect with his US counterpart President Joe Biden with the bilateral ties charting new domains of engagement. Read more