PM Modi’s Visit Will Highlight Rising Importance Of India In Global Affairs: US Diplomat Atul Keshap

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming United States visit will highlight the rising importance of India in global affairs and the deepening ties between our two countries, senior US diplomat Atul Keshap said.

President of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), Atul Keshap stressed the visit is “truly a momentous thing” since it will be only the third state visit from India to the United States.

The previous two state visits included the one for President S Radhakrishnan in June 1963 and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2009.

Speaking to the media, the USIBC chief said, “It is the reflection of friendship and trust between the people of the United States and the people of India.”

PM Modi invited to attend dinner with President Biden

Prime Minister Modi has been invited for an official state visit which would include a State Dinner on June 22 by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The preparation for the historic visit is expected to gain momentum this week with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan heading to New Delhi for the second round of the iCET Dialogue with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.

Citing the preparation status, Indian  Ambassador to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu asserted that the ceremonial and substantive part of the state visit will “fully complement each other and will be unparalleled.”

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Official statements

“We are a week away from the historic state visit of Prime Minister Modi to the United States at the invitation of President Biden. There is great excitement on both sides. My PM is only the third Indian leader in our independent history to be accorded the honour of a state visit by the US President. He also will become the only Indian leader to address the US Congress twice,” Sandhu said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Biden administration sees the “defining relationship as a unique connection between the world’s oldest and largest democracies” and “the importance of the partnership in a shared commitment to addressing regional and global challenges.”

“Last year, as you all know, trade between our nations reached a record $191 billion dollars, making the US the largest trading partner for India. American companies have now invested at least $54 billion in India. In the US, Indian companies have invested over $40 billion in IT, pharmaceuticals and more, supporting 425,000 jobs from California to Georgia,” he said.