PM Modi’s whirlwind US trip achieved ‘very significant outcome’: Foreign Secretary – The Rahnuma Daily
New York, Sep 24 (IANS) During a whirlwind trip of about 55 hours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi achieved “very significant outcomes” in bilateral and multilateral domains, allowing India to present its perspectives on a global stage, as stated by India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Misri briefed reporters on Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit, which included meetings with US President Joe Biden, participation in the Quad and United Nations summits, as well as addressing a rally of the Indian diaspora. He remarked, “I’m sure the results from this will stand us in good strength as we move forward.”
Despite the brief duration of the trip, Misri noted that “We’ve had very significant outcomes in the bilateral, unilateral, and multilateral domains.” This visit enabled India to convey its thoughts and significance on a global platform.
The trip emphasized a robust technology component, featuring a roundtable discussion with tech CEOs as well as highlights in the joint statement of the Quad and the bilateral factsheet between the US and India. He stated that the roundtable allowed CEOs to discuss the transformative potential of AI and quantum computing not only for India but also for other countries within the global south, underscoring India’s potential leadership role in this sphere.
India’s digital public infrastructure (DPI), which provides a payments, identity, and documentation system, has presented a “third way” to showcase how digital advancements could be utilized for societal and public benefit, extending beyond borders to serve a global purpose.
Misri also emphasized the increasing importance of technology as a core driver of the strategic partnership between India and the US, highlighting participation from leaders of major tech companies such as Google, Nvidia, Global Foundry, and IBM, along with bioscience powerhouses like Moderna and Biogen.
The White House released a joint fact sheet where President Biden and Prime Minister Modi agreed to enhance AI innovation opportunities, foster research and development collaboration on advanced semiconductor processors, and bolster support for India’s National Quantum Mission.
In addressing concerns regarding the reported meeting between Khalistani Sikhs and White House officials, as well as the legal actions surrounding the Indian government initiated by Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Misri maintained that the primary focus remains on the crucial relationship between India and the United States. He explained, “If you want details regarding that and what the motivation of these things is, I think it would be better to direct this question to those directly involved.”
On another note, India abstained from voting on last week’s General Assembly resolution that affirmed the World Court’s ruling deeming Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip as illegal. Responding to whether this issue arose during Modi’s meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Misri mentioned that Abbas expressed appreciation for India’s humanitarian and political support for Palestine on the global stage.
The Summit of the Future has adopted a Pact for the Future that commits world leaders to an action plan aimed at addressing global challenges, including a call for expedited reforms within the UN Security Council. Misri highlighted the significance of a detailed paragraph on Security Council reform included within the UN summit document, stating, “So it may not have every single detail in every area that we would imagine or like there to be, but I think it’s a good beginning.” He expressed hope for the initiation of text-based negotiations in a fixed timeline moving forward.
