President Obama said Tuesday that he was “impressed” with new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to lifting his people out of poverty and deepening ties with the U.S.
The two leaders met Tuesday afternoon at the White House in Mr. Modi’s first visit to America since assuming power earlier this year.
“Throughout this conversation, I’ve been impressed with the prime minister’s interest in not only addressing the needs of the poorest of the poor in India and revitalizing the economy there, but also its determination to make sure that India is serving as a major power that can help bring about peace and security for the entire world,” the president said.
Mr. Modi has made economic growth the centerpiece of his agenda and has expressed openness to reforming India’s intellectual property rights protections, seen by American businesses as the primary barrier to doing business in the developing nation.
The conversation between Mr. Obama and Mr. Modi centered on economic growth but also included climate change, security challenges such as the fight against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, space exploration and other issues.
“This visit, especially my conversation with President Obama, has reinforced my conviction that India and the United States are natural global partners, based on our shared value, interest and strength in the digital age. We already have the foundation of a strong partnership,” Mr. Modi said. “We now have to revive the momentum and ensure that we get the best out of it for our people and for the world.”
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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