Indo-US ties no longer just another partnership: PM Modi

Addressing the Namaste Trump event at Ahmedabad's Motera Stadium, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the US President's maiden visit to India heralded a new chapter in relations between both the nations.

Ahmedabad (Gujarat): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed US President Donald Trump's visit to India as a "new chapter" in the historic Indo-US relations, adding their ties is no longer just another partnership but a far greater and closer relationship.

Welcoming the President at the 'Namaste Trump' event at the new-look Motera stadium shortly after his arrival on the first leg of his two-day trip, Modi said a "new history" is being created and asserted that foundations of new alignments, challenges, opportunities and changes are being laid.

Connecting the United States and India through two statues -- the Statues of Liberty and the Statue of Unity, PM Modi smartly positioned India as a nation that has much in common with the United States.

The Indo-US ties are no longer just another partnership but have touched far greater heights, and the Trump's trip with his family shows this, Modi told an estimated one lakh-strong audience who broke into cheers frequently.

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Modi said President Trump's visit is a new chapter in the relations between India and America. "A chapter that will become a new document of progress and prosperity of the people of America and India," he added.

"There is so much that we share: Values and ideals, spirit of enterprise and innovation, opportunities and challenges, hopes and aspirations," Modi said.

"The name of this program - Namaste -- it has a very deep meaning... It is one of the oldest languages in the world, a Sanskrit word. Its sense is that not only the person, but also the divinity within him," remarked Modi.

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Modi said today 130 crore Indians are jointly building a 'new India'. "Our youth power is full of aspirations. Setting big goals, achieving them is becoming the hallmark of new India today," he said.

Modi noted that India not only has a the world record of sending the maximum number of satellites simultaneously, but also is making the world record by doing the fastest financial inclusion.

"Today the country with which India has the most extensive research and development partnership is America," he said.

(With inputs from PTI and IANS)