India Has A ‘True Friend’ In The White House, Says Trump To Modi

India’s foreign secretary S Jaishankar, said both sides voiced their concerns on trade impediments, in a free and frank discussion. Jaishankar who was briefing the media after the bilateral talks got over, said the two nations were looking to address some of these concerns paving the way for more trade.

Prime Minister Modi presented a folio with an original commemorative postal stamp issued by India in 1965, to President Trump. Modi also gave him a wooden chest with an intricate pattern which is a speciality of Hoshiarpur in Punjab.

President Trump said that he is looking to reduce the trade deficit between the two countries by removing trade barriers. Urging India to relax trade norms for U.S. goods and services, Trump said he hopes India increases its import of oil and gas from the U.S. which currently has a trade deficit with India.

India and U.S., together, can create a path that unleashes the power of new technology, infrastructure and the enthusiasm of “very hardworking and very dynamic people", Trump added.

The terrorism in Afghanistan is a growing concern for both the leaders, said Modi, adding that they discussed the “major challenges” of terrorism and extremism during the meeting.

Given that India and U.S. have had significant parts in remaking the country, India will remain committed to peace in Afghanistan, Modi said.

The leaders have decided to expand maritime contracts between the two nations, Modi said.

The government’s “Make In India”programme is not a threat to the Trump administration's vision of "Making America Great Again", said Modi. Our main focus includes trade, commerce and education, he added.

PM Modi has invited President Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump to lead the U.S. delegation at the global entrepreneurship program in India.

"I eagerly await Ivanka Trump's visit to India", he said during his address to the media.

Donald Trump also thanked Indian air carrier SpiceJet Ltd. for placing an order for new aircraft from Boeing. The order will help create thousands of jobs in the U.S., he said.

The private air carrier's Chairman Ajay Singh, who is also currently in the U.S., told Bloomberg that the plan was to operate the new planes both for domestic and international travel.

Also Read: The World’s Top Airline Stock Is India’s SpiceJet With 124% Gain

Complementing India for going ahead with the Goods and Services Tax rollout on July 1, President Trump said his administration is also looking to overhaul the tax system in the U.S.

Trump further said he hoped America could catch up with India and grow at a much faster pace, acknowledging India's pace of growth.

Donald Trump thanked India for buying defence equipment from the U.S. It is still not clear if any new deal was signed today.

India and the United States can do a lot of things together and the joint leadership will benefit the world, said Modi.

President Trump said it was an honour to host Prime Minister Modi at the White House and congratulated him on his work back home in India.

Modi said that he is grateful for the personal invitation extended to him by the U.S. President and his wife. He said he fondly remembers the praise Donald Trump had showered on him in his last visit to India in 2014.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet PM Modi at the entrance of the White House before proceeding for the bilateral meeting between the two leaders.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is about to arrive at the White House to begin his first bilateral meet with Donald Trump, in less than 10 minutes.

In an op-ed piece published by the Wall Street Journal on Monday, Modi said that, “unlike before, India is not standing in a corner". He downplayed any friction with China citing growing diplomatic and trade relations with other Asian nations and spoke of strenthening ties with India's neighbours.

Read More: Modi@2: I Have an Enormous Task Ahead for Myself, PM Tells WSJ

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India’s Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said the Prime Minister discussed issues like counter-terrorism and strategic defence partnership with the U.S. Secretary of Defence James Mattis and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The U.S. has decided to declare Syed Mohammed Yusuf Shah, the head of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, a Kashmir-based militant separatist group a “global terrorist.” India had been seeking stronger sanctions on Syed Salahuddin for quite some time now.

Prime Minister Modi meets U.S. Secretary State of Defence James Mattis, his first high level meeting before his bilateral talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.

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• Prime Minister Has A Packed Agenda As Trump Awaits A ‘True Friend’
• In U.S., Modi Stresses On Gains Of Free Movement Of Professionals

Next to call on the Prime Minister was Rex Tillerson, U.S. Secretary of State.

The Prime Minister met 20 top executives of American firms on Sunday. Modi who’s “Make In India” campaign is said to be at variance with the U.S. President’s “America First” campaign, highlighted the work done by his government over the last three years. The Goods and Services Tax which comes into effect from July 1, he said is should be a case study for the top business schools in the U.S.