11/11/2022
New Delhi, Nov. 11: : Ahead of the bilateral between US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Indonesia, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the two leaders have a productive and very practical relationship.
“I would point out Prime Minister Modi has already been to the White House since President Biden took office, and the two of them have had the opportunity to meet in person multiple times and to talk by phone and on video multiple times,” US NSA Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House on Thursday, as quoted by news agency PTI.
According to the US NSA, both Modi and Biden see common interests on a number of critical issues and have really worked together to strengthen the US-India partnership.
“When you add all that up, it is a productive, very practical relationship,” Sullivan added.
“President Biden is looking forward to seeing Prime Minister Modi at the G20 this year, as we look ahead to the next year,” he said, as quoted by PTI.
India will hold the presidency of the G20 next year and there is a possibility of a US presidential visit to the country.
“President Biden certainly intends to be a participant in that G20. I don't have anything to announce about visits prior to that, to India, or visits to the White House,” Sullivan said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Indonesian city of Bali from November 14 to 16 to attend the G20 summit, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Thursday.
India will assume the Presidency of the powerful grouping from the current chair Indonesia on December 1.
The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies.
It comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union (EU).
The G20 summit will take place on November 15 and 16 in Bali and Modi is set to be among the top leaders attending it.
The G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation representing around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
India is currently part of the G20 Troika (current, previous and incoming G20 Presidencies) along with Indonesia and Italy.-Agencies