Joe Biden, the President of the United States, has called the appointment of Rishi Sunak as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom a “ground-breaking milestone” at the Diwali celebrations hosted by the Bidens at the White House.

Sunak, who has been elected to become the leader of the Conservative Party and the UK’s first Prime Minister of colour, is set to be formally appointed by King Charles III on Tuesday, October 25.

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In his remarks at the White House Diwali celebration on Monday, the president said the festival of lights is a reminder that each of us had the power to dispel darkness and bring light to the world.

“It’s a choice. And we make that choice every day. It’s true in our lives and in the life of this nation, especially in the life of a democracy, whether here in America or for the families back in India marking 75 years of independence,” he said. “And whether it’s the United Kingdom, where just today we’ve got the news that Rishi Sunak is now the Prime Minister,” Biden said amidst a big cheer from the select guests of more than 200 people consisting of the who’s who of Indian Americans and members of his administration.

Biden also sent out a Diwali wish via Twitter:

At the event, Vice President Kamala Harris cited her mother as the main figure behind her success. First Lady Jill Biden remarked, “As we chart our path toward the future, this community helps light our way forward with courage and kindness, with persistence and faith, with love. I’m grateful that today these diyas have guided you to this home, a home that belongs to all of you: The White House”.

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After the election of Sunak as the new Tory leader was announced, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate him. Modi also said that he is looking forward to work closely with Sunak on global issues and also take forward the plans documented in Roadmap 2030, a joint initiative of enhanced cooperation between the two countries that was signed when Boris Johnson was in power.