India is a 'very important partner' to the US, says Kamala Harris

Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Vice-President Kamala Harris delivered a joint statement at the White House on Thursday. Harris said “India is a very important partner to the US. During the meet the two leaders reinforced the strategic partnership between the two countries and discussed issues of mutual and global interest. Prime Minister Modi said India and America are natural partners; we have similar values, geopolitical interests, and our coordination and cooperation is also increasing. This is the first meeting between the two leaders. Harris had earlier spoken with Modi over the phone during the COVID-19 crisis in India. Harris described India as a “very important partner” to the US and welcomed New Delhi’s announcement that it will soon resume vaccine export. India stopped the export of COVID-19 vaccines after the second wave of the pandemic hit the country in April this year. On Monday, India said that it will resume export of surplus COVID-19 vaccines in the fourth quarter of 2021 under the ‘‘Vaccine Maitri’’ programme and to meet its commitment to the COVAX global pool. Harris, 56, is the first-ever person of Indian origin to be elected as the vice-president of the United States. “This meeting will build upon their 3 June telephone conversation addressing the COVID response. They plan to discuss democracy, human rights, climate, and global health issues, a White House official had earlier said. Their meeting comes a day ahead of the maiden bilateral meeting between Modi and President Joe Biden and the Quad Leaders’ Summit at the White House on Friday. Since taking office, Harris has met with or spoken to over 30 world leaders, promoting US interests on issues ranging from global health to climate change to cyber threats. With input from agencies Follow more LIVE updates on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 76th session of the UN General Assembly