G20 Osaka Summit: Narendra Modi, Donald Trump hold bilateral talks; 5G, trade tariffs, defence among key issues

Osaka: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held bilateral talks with US President Donald Trump and discussed a host of key issues including trade, defence and 5G communications networks ahead of the formal opening of the G-20 Summit. [caption id=“attachment_4481899” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Narendra Modi and Donald Trump. AP[/caption] Modi said that he wanted to discuss Iran, 5G, bilateral relations and defence relations with Trump. He also thanked the US President for expressing his “love towards India” in a letter recently delivered by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Trump congratulated Modi on his election victory and said that the two countries would work together in many areas including military. “It was a big victioy, you deserve it, you have done a great job. We have big things to announce. In terms of trade, in terms of manufacturing, we would be discussing 5G. I congratulate you and I look forward to talks,” Trump said.

Japan: PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump at bilateral meeting between India & US in Osaka pic.twitter.com/JMXghmg0tD

— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2019

The two leaders met shortly after the Japan-America-India (JAI) trilateral meeting during which Modi highlighted “the importance India attaches to” the grouping. The Modi-Trump meeting assumed significance as the US president, championing his ‘America First’ policy, has been a vocal critic of India for levying "tremendously high" duties on US products . Before his arrival in Japan on Thursday, Trump tweeted, “I look forward to speaking with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi about the fact that India, for years having put very high Tariffs against the United States, just recently increased the Tariffs even further. This is unacceptable and the Tariffs must be withdrawn!” This was Modi’s first meeting with Trump after the BJP’s landslide win in the parliamentary election.