Before departing for the US in the morning, he said his visit will be an opportunity to enrich the depth and diversity of the India-America partnership. He added his Egypt tour will help impart further momentum to the civilisational and multifaceted partnership with the country.
Special invitation reflection of vitality of partnership: PM Modi before departure
Ahead of his departure, PM Modi said he is travelling to the US on a state visit at the invitation of President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. “This special invitation is a reflection of the vigour and vitality of the partnership between the democracies (India and the US). I am confident that my visit to the US will reinforce our ties based on shared values of democracy, diversity and freedom. Together we stand stronger in meeting the shared global challenges,” PM Modi’s departure statement stated.
He added his meetings with President Biden and other senior US leaders will provide an opportunity to consolidate bilateral cooperation as well as that in plurilateral forums such as G20, Quad and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity.
PM Modi’s US itinerary
After landing at Andrews Air Force base in Maryland, Prime Minister Modi will head to New York.
- Day 1 (June 21): On June 21, the PM will lead an International Yoga Day event at the
United Nations headquarters in New York City where he will be joined by several top Indian-Americans. “I look forward to this special celebration at the very location that supported India’s proposal in December 2014 to recognize an International Day of Yoga,” PM Modi said before departing. - Day 2 (June 22): After wrapping up events and meetings in New York, the Prime Minister will fly to Washington for the official state visit at the White House. The Prime Minister’s official state visit will start with President Biden welcoming Modi at South Lawn of the White House with a 21-gun salute in the presence of over 7,000 Indian-American attendees. The two leaders will then head in for a bilateral meeting followed by delegation talks and a joint press address.The PM is also scheduled to address a US Congress joint session. This will be PM Modi’s second address to the US Congress, which makes him the first Indian leader to do so. He first addressed the US Congress in June 2016.
- Day 3 (June 23): On June 23, the US state department will host a lunch for PM Modi and his team. He will be joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and secretary of state Anthony Blinken. Post lunch, the PM will address an event organised by the US-India Strategic Patnership Forum in Washington, D.C. America’s top CEOs and business leaders will be in attendance. Later in the day, PM Modi will head for a mega event at Ronald Reagan Centre and international trade centre in Washington to address the Indian diaspora.
‘Unprecedented trust’ between the leaders of US and India: PM
Prime Minister Modi said that the ties between New Delhi and Washington are stronger and deeper than ever. “There is an unprecedented trust between the leaders of the two countries,” PM Modi said in in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, ahead of his first state visit to the US.
He added India deserves a much higher, deeper and wider profile and a role. “We have a core belief in respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, observing the rule of law and peaceful resolution of differences and disputes. At the same time, India is fully prepared and committed to protect its sovereignty and dignity,” Modi told the US newspaper.
PM Modi likely to meet Tesla CEO Elon Musk in US
Tesla CEO Elon Muskis among 24 people, including economists, artistes and scientists, the PM is scheduled to meet in the US. Among the big names are astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and Grammy award-winning Indian-American singer Falu (Falguni Shah).
After wrapping up his US tour, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to fly off to Cairo for another official state visit at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fallah El-Sisi.
