PM Modi meets with US Vice President Pence in Singapore


[ad_1]

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday discussed a wide range of bilateral and global issues of mutual interest, including defense and trade cooperation, ways and means to fight against terrorism and the need to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The two leaders held a warm meeting on the sidelines of the East Asia summit, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar.

They had "productive discussions on all aspects of the global strategic partnership based on the growing convergence of interests on regional and global issues," he said.

Pence spoke of the 10th anniversary of Mumbai's deadly terrorist attack on November 26, and hailed the two countries' counterterrorism cooperation, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale told reporters on Tuesday. 39, outcome of the meeting.

Modi thanked Pence and reminded him that, one way or another, all the traces and causes of the terrorist attacks in the world ultimately lead to a "single source and a single location". "Origin," without naming country or organization.

"He stressed that the integration of the people involved in the Mumbai attacks in the political process that took place during the recent elections in Pakistan should be a matter of grave concern and not just for both countries, the United States. India and the United States, but international community, "said Gokhale, referring to the brain party of the Mumbai terrorist attack Hafiz Saeed challenging the July 25 elections in Pakistan.

"We had a good understanding of how we were progressing in setting up cooperation in the fight against terrorism and both countries recognized that it was a challenge for us to fight together and with the rest of the international community, "said Gokhale.

On bilateral issues, both sides had brief discussions on trade-related issues.

"We have agreed that in a new relationship we are building with the United States where trade is developing, we need to find ways to help this process unfold," he said.

Prime Minister Modi has notably pointed out that since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, US exports to India have increased by 50% and may be the only country in the world. , perhaps the only one, of the top 10 countries with which the United States has a trade deficit. The deficit is actually reduced last year and should be reduced again this year, said Gokhale.

He added that Prime Minister Modi had also discussed the import of 4 billion US dollars of oil and gas from the United States, both leaders stressed the need to strengthen energy cooperation.

"It's important from the perspective of the US There has been a lot of talk about energy, it's a new sector in Indo-American relations – we've started importing oil and gas from the states. US $ 4 billion this year. "We are expressing our readiness to import more gas and oil from the United States as a way to expand trade," he said.

The defense sector was another area of ​​cooperation between the two sides.

"Both parties agreed that our defense relations and equipment imports from the United States had been significantly improved, but Prime Minister Modi pointed out that the United States had a significant amount of money. great opportunity to manufacture defense equipment and set up a defense industry in India, "he said.

"Not only because India is a substantial market, but also because our regional positioning allows us to become a hub of exports to the rest of the region," said Gokhale.

Modi told Pence that he hoped the Trump administration would recognize this as a new economic opportunity.

The first-ever 2 + 2 ministerial meeting between the defense and foreign ministers of both countries was welcomed.

Pence recalled his talks with Prime Minister Modi and acknowledged that India has made substantial progress both economically and diplomatically in regional and international affairs, Gokhale said.

Mr. Pence felt that India was a positive factor in regional and international relations and stated that the United States was eager to work with India on various political and economic issues. , to ensure "an international order based on fair rules", he said.

The two sides "agreed that in international fora, we should, on the basis of common values, build possible cooperation in a number of areas".

The Indo-Pacific region was also discussed and Prime Minister Modi discussed his June Singapore speech at the IISS Shangrila Dialogue in which he presented India's vision for the Indo-Pacific.

The prime minister told Mr Pence that his vision of the Indo-Pacific was becoming more and more acceptable and that "we should use the next Asian summit of Asia." Is to continue on this momentum, "said Gokhale, while China sagged in the seas of the East and South.

Pence felt that the contribution of India is important for the maintenance of a free and open Indo-Pacific. He said the recent naval exercises organized by the United States, India and Japan are "proof of our commitment to guarantee free and open access to the seas of the entire region".

The two sides, he added, will discuss "our ongoing efforts to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula".

He thanked India for supporting the United States in its North Korean lobbying campaign. "We are grateful for India's support of our lobbying campaign," said Mr. Pence.

"But we look forward to finding even more ways to work together, even as the President heads to another summit with President Kim in the hope that we can finally achieve lasting peace on the peninsula. Korean, "he said.

[ad_2]Source link