Indian PM Modi heads for UN General Assembly, Quad meet in the US

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a three-day visit to the United States where he will address the UN General Assembly, attend the Quad Summit, and hold a bilateral meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House.

Biden will host PM Modi at the White House on September 24. This will be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders after Biden took over as the US President on January 20.

Ahead of leaving for the US to participate in Quad Leaders' Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his visit would be an occasion to strengthen the strategic partnership with the United States, Japan and Australia.

"I will be visiting the USA from September 22 to September 25, 2021, at the invitation of His Excellency President Joe Biden of the United States of America. During my visit, I will review the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with President Biden and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest," the Indian PM said in his Departure Statement ahead of his visit to the US.

"I am also looking forward to meeting Vice President Kamala Harris to explore opportunities for cooperation between our two nations, particularly in the area of science and technology," he added.

PM Modi will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

Quad is a partnership among four like-minded countries (India, US, Japan, and Australia) to pursue common interests in striving for a free open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

Notably, this will be the Prime Minister's first visit abroad, beyond the neighbourhood, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. He had made a brief visit to Bangladesh in March this year.

(ANI)