PM Modi speaks to Biden, discusses cooperation, pandemic

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to US President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday, with both leaders reiterating their firm commitment to the strategic partnership between the two countries as they discussed their shared priorities and concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The prime minister also conveyed his congratulations to US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to the United States President-elect Joe Biden on the phone to congratulate him, reiterating the country's firm commitment to the Indo-US strategic partnership and discussed shared priorities.

This was the first interaction between the two leaders after Democrat Biden defeated incumbent president Donald Trump in the US presidential election.

• Spoke to US President-elect @JoeBiden on phone to congratulate him. We reiterated our firm commitment to the Indo-US strategic partnership and discussed our shared priorities and concerns - Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region.

  — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Spoke to US President-elect @JoeBiden on phone to congratulate him. We reiterated our firm commitment to the Indo-US strategic partnership and discussed our shared priorities and concerns - Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region.

  — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2020

  ">

  Spoke to US President-elect @JoeBiden on phone to congratulate him. We reiterated our firm commitment to the Indo-US strategic partnership and discussed our shared priorities and concerns - Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region.

  — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2020

"Spoke to US President-elect @JoeBiden on phone to congratulate him. We reiterated our firm commitment to the Indo-US strategic partnership and discussed our shared priorities and concerns--COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region," PM Modi tweeted.

• I also conveyed warm congratulations for VP-elect @KamalaHarris. Her success is a matter of great pride and inspiration for members of the vibrant Indian-American community, who are a tremendous source of strength for Indo-US relations.

  — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  I also conveyed warm congratulations for VP-elect @KamalaHarris. Her success is a matter of great pride and inspiration for members of the vibrant Indian-American community, who are a tremendous source of strength for Indo-US relations.

  — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2020

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  I also conveyed warm congratulations for VP-elect @KamalaHarris. Her success is a matter of great pride and inspiration for members of the vibrant Indian-American community, who are a tremendous source of strength for Indo-US relations.

  — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2020

The Prime Minister, in the following tweet, also conveyed warm congratulations to Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris. "...Her success is a matter of great pride and inspiration for members of the vibrant Indian-American community, who are a tremendous source of strength for Indo-US relations," he added.

After Biden's electoral victory was announced, PM Modi had congratulated him and had said he looked forward to working closely with the US leader once again to take relations between two countries to greater heights. He had said that Biden's contribution to strengthening Indo-US relations as Vice President "was critical and invaluable".

The Prime Minister had expressed confidence that vibrant India-US ties will get stronger with the support and leadership of Kamala Harris.

Biden and PM Modi had a telephonic conversation on Tuesday during which the latter congratulated the former vice president for winning the elections.

Prime Minister Modi warmly congratulated President-elect Biden on his election, describing "it as a testament to the strength and resilience of democratic traditions in the United States", according to a statement by Prime Minister's office. The prime minister also extended his heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Vice President-elect Senator Kamala Harris.

The president-elect thanked the prime minister for his congratulations and expressed his desire to strengthen and expand the U.S.-India strategic partnership alongside the first vice president of South Asian descent Kamala Harris, according to a statement by his transition team.

(ANI)