A day before he leaves for a three-nation tour to Portugal, the USA and the Netherlands, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he is looking to building a forward-looking vision for India-US partnership.
“I will be visiting Washington, DC on 24-26 June at the invitation of President Donald J. Trump. President Trump and I have spoken on telephone prior to this. Our conversations have touched upon our common intent to take forward our productive all round engagement for the mutual benefit of our people. I look forward to this opportunity to have an in depth exchange of views on further consolidating the robust and wide ranging partnership between India and the United States,” the PM said on his Facebook page on Friday.
He said India’s partnership with the US is multi-layered and diverse, supported by not just Governments but all the stakeholders on both sides. “I look forward to building a forward looking vision for our partnership with the new Administration in the United States under President Trump. Apart from official meetings with President Trump and his cabinet colleagues, I will be meeting some prominent American CEOs. As in the past, I look forward to interacting with the Indian diaspora in the US as well,” Modi said.
PM’s first destination will be Portugal on 24 June, 2017. “Our close historical and friendly ties have picked up momentum after Prime Minister Antonio Costa’s visit to India in January 2017. I am looking forward to my meeting with PM Costa. Building on our recent discussions, we will review the progress of various joint initiatives and decisions. We will also discuss ways to further enhance the bilateral engagement, especially in the areas of economic cooperation, science and technology, space collaboration and people to people ties. We will deliberate on means to intensify our cooperation in counter-terrorism and on other international issues of mutual interest. I also see significant potential for deepening bilateral trade and investment ties. I am also keen to interact with the Indian Community in Portugal during the visit,” Modi said.
About his visit to The Netherlands on 27 June, 2017, PM said he would be exchanging views with PM Mark Rutte on important global issues including counter-terrorism and climate change. India and The Netherlands are celebrating 70 years of the establishment of Indo-Dutch diplomatic relations this year.
The Netherlands is the sixth largest trading partner in the European Union and fifth largest investment partner globally. “The Dutch expertise in areas such as water and waste management, agriculture and food processing, renewable energy and ports and shipping, matches with our development needs. Indo-Dutch economic engagement is a win-win proposition. I will discuss with PM Rutte as to how the two sides should work to further harness the synergies. I will also be meeting with CEOs of major Dutch companies and will encourage them to join the Indian growth story,” the PM wrote. He will also engage with the Indian community in The Netherlands.