In a grand welcome ceremony, US President Joe Biden on Thursday received Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a state visit to America, at the White House. “PM Modi welcome back to the White House. I am honoured to be the first to host you here on a State visit,” Biden said amid loud cheerings from the crowd assembled there to witness the grand welcome ceremony.
Biden said the relationship between the US and India is one of the most defining relationships in the 21st century. “With your cooperation, we have strengthened the QUAD for a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Decades from now, people will look back and say that the Quad bent the arc of history for global good,” the US president said.
Biden also said that India and US are working closely on eliminating poverty, expanding access to healthcare, addressing climate change, and tackling food and energy insecurity triggered by the Russian war on Ukraine.
PM Modi thanked President Biden for his friendship. He said people of the Indian community were enhancing India’s glory in the US through their hard work and dedication. “You are the real strength of our relationship. I thank President Biden and Dr Jill Biden for giving this honour to them,” the PM said.