Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived at the White House to hold bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden.

White House Acting Chief of Protocol greeted  PM Modi at the West Wing door on his arrival. PM Modi and President Biden’s hour-long meeting took place at the Oval Office.

In a statement, PM Modi said, “I thank you for the warm welcome accorded to me & my delegation. Earlier, we had an opportunity to hold discussions, & at that time you had laid out the vision for India-US bilateral relations. Today, you are taking initiatives to implement your vision for India-US relation.”

“Mahatma Gandhi always used to say about trusteeship of the Planet. This sentiment of trusteeship is the need of the hour globally,” PM Modi told US President Joe Biden.

Also read: PM Modi to Biden: Trade continues to play major role between US, India

He also said that trade will continue to play a major role between the countries. “In 2014 and 2016, I got an opportunity to talk to you. You had shared your vision for Indo-US relations,” he said. 

“Seeds that we will be sowing in the first year of the 3rd decade if the 21st century will help grow the Indo-US ties. It will also prove transformative for democracies around the world,” PM Modi further added.

“Technology is becoming a driving force. We have to utilise our talents to leverage technology for the greater global good,” PM Modi said.

After meeting with PM Modi, US President Joe Biden said, “Relationship between India and United States, the largest democracy in the world, is destined to be stronger closer and together. I was talk to the PM about dealing with the COVID pandemic. We will be talking about the same during the QUAD meeting.”

“I’ve long believed that US-India relationship can help us solve a lot of global challenges. In fact back in 2006 when I was the Vice President, I said that by 2020 India & US will be among the closest nations in the world,” Biden added.

With PM Modi by his side, Biden played up ties to India— referencing Vice President Kamala Harris’ Indian heritage and recalling getting a letter when he was a young senator from someone in Mumbai who shared his last name.

Post this, PM Modi will be attending the historic Quad Summit with Japan, US and Australia.

Also read: In pics: PM Modi holds bilateral talks with global leaders, CEOs ahead of Quad

Before the Quad summit, Japan and India welcomed a recent announcement that the US, as part of a new alliance with Britain and Australia, would equip Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden said, “This morning I’m hosting Indian PM Narendra Modi at the White House for a bilateral meeting. I look forward to strengthening the deep ties between our two nations, working to uphold a free & open Indo-Pacific, and tackling everything from COVID-19 to climate change.