PM Modi’s US visit to set tone for future ties, ‘robust outcome document’ in the works | India News

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s first state visit to the US this month is expected to be a watershed moment for Indo-US ties and both sides are working on a robust document to set the tone for the future, people familiar with the matter told news agency PTI.
The Prime Minister will travel to US on June 22 after an invitation by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
This will be Modi’s sixth overall visit to the US since taking over as PM in 2014.
With just days left for the visit, the preparation for the high profile tour is expected to gain momentum this week in both New Delhi and Washington.
The two sides are finalising the joint statement, which is being described as a robust outcome document and as something that would shape the nature and contour of the Indo-US relationship for decades to come, according to multiple people familiar with the planning of the visit.

Sources told PTI that the joint statement will touch upon key focus areas such as technology, space and defence.
But all the sectors are likely to have a personal touch of PM Modi, who has insisted that these be linked to the development and welfare of the people.

The outcome document is expected to be reflective of the visions of the two leaders, they said.
A concrete set of deliverables are likely to appear in the outcome documents that are being prepared. It, among other things, would also highlight the Prime Minister’s approach to technology for development.
While the outcome document would include things that would accelerate the cooperation between industries and, overall, the big picture likely to emerge from the historic visit is that it would concretise the trust and confidence level between the two countries like never seen before, they said.

Following the state visit, the partnership is headed to evolve from India being seen as a big market for American companies to the relationship being seen as that of two reliable partners, especially in the field of the supply chain.
The key to it is India’s ability to produce things at scale and affordable prices with American technology.
The visit would result in taking up the trust and confidence between the two countries to an altogether new level.
What’s on the cards
Prime Minister Modi will fly into Washington on June 21 from New York after attending the International Yoga Day celebrations.
The official visit will begin with President Biden hosting a state dinner for PM Modi on June 22.
According to the White House Historical Association, this would be the 11th state dinner that a US President is hosting for an Indian leader, but in the last 75 years, only two other Indian leaders have been given the honour of an official state visit.
The previous two state visits included the one for President S Radhakrishnan in June 1963 and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2009.
Over the next two days, the two leaders would spend several hours together, beginning with a welcome ceremony on the South Lawns of the White House.
This is expected to be one of the biggest White House welcome ceremonies, with the exception of the 2008 papal visit when, according to record, more than 13,500 people attended.
Several thousands of Indian Americans are planning to attend the welcome ceremony on the South Lawns of the White House, which might cross 5,000 on the morning of June 22.
More than 1,500 Indian Americans are planning to come to Washington from the New York and New Jersey areas.
Over 500 Indian Americans each are coming from states like California, Illinois, Texas, Georgia and Florida.
After the welcome ceremony, which would be addressed by the two leaders, Biden and Modi are then expected to walk towards the Oval Office for a one-on-one talk followed by a delegation-level meeting in the Cabinet meeting room.
On June 23, PM Modi will address a joint meeting of the US Congress, becoming only the third world leader, outside of Israel, to make such an address twice. PM Modi earlier addressed the US Congress in 2016.
Vice President Kamala Harris would host the Prime Minister for lunch on June 23 at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department, which is being co-hosted by the Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the Second Gentleman. The two leaders are likely to deliver remarks during the luncheon.
Interaction with the diaspora and the business community is one of the hallmarks of the Prime Ministers’ overseas trips, which is expected to consume most of the day’s proceedings on June 23.
In between, several Cabinet ministers in the Biden administration and key leaders are likely to call on the Prime Minister for meetings.
(With inputs from PTI)