U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets PM Narenda Modi

World Today

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It’s part of preparations for Modi’s visit to Washington in September, when he’ll meet President Barack Obama. This was Narendra Modi’s first meeting with a senior US official since he became prime minister of India.

John Kerry’s meeting with Narendra Modi came a day after he met India’s external affairs minister for the 5th US-India strategic dialogue.

Kerry said on Thursday that Modi shares a very similar vision with President Obama. Their meeting on Friday lasted for over an hour, with Kerry conveying Barack Obama’s willingness to work with India in achieving its development goals.

This is the first high-level contact between the United States and the new government in India. US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzer has accompanied Kerry. According to a statement issued by Modi’s office, Kerry said President Obama attaches great priority to relations with India, both for bilateral cooperation and global partnership, and looks forward to a productive and fruitful summit in September in Washington to set an ambitious new agenda to chart a new course in the relationship.

Modi outlined his vision for India and for the partnership between the world’s two largest democracies in addressing global challenges, promoting peace and stability in the world and supporting India’s economic transformation.

While Kerry criticized India’s position on a WTO customs deal, the Indian Prime Minister said developed countries need to understand the challenges of poverty in developing countries and their governments’ responsibilities in addressing them.

Kerry and Modi also discussed the regional situation, including India’s engagement in Asia Pacific region, Afghanistan and confronting terrorism on the principles of “zero tolerance”.

India and US are working hard to improve their relationship. But this relationship needs to be re-energised to the times when the landmark Indo-U.S. nuclear deal was signed.

The meeting between Prime Minister Modi and John Kerry was a prelude to Modi’s visit to Washington in September. All efforts are being taken to ensure that meeting produces results. CCTV America’s Shweta Bajaj reports.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets PM Narenda Modi

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It's part of preparations for Modi's visit to Washington in September, when he'll meet President Barack Obama. This was Narendra Modi's first meeting with a senior US official since he became prime minister of India.