Obama, Modi confirm Nuclear Power Corporation Of India and Westinghouse will finalise contractual arrangements by June 2017.
Advertisement
The two nations agreed on that they would link increased financial support for India from a multilateral fund with what Obama adviser Brian Deese called “an ambitious approach to phase out HFCs altogether”.
Resolving to combat the menace of tax evasion and black money, India and Switzerland on Monday enhanced bilateral cooperation including backing of Geneva to New Delhi for becoming a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
The United States has returned over 200 pieces of rare artefacts to India, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country. A highly-anticipated symbolic visit to the Arlington National Cemetery, soon after he landed in Washington on Monday, saw him pay tribute to fallen US soldiers and meet the family of Kalpana Chawla – the Indian-American astronaut who died in the 2003 Columbia space shuttle disaster.
So far, the two leaders have met six times, since Modi became the Prime Minister in May a year ago.
The two governments also said they had finalized the text of a defense logistics agreement to make it easier for their militaries to operate together.
It is Modi’s fourth visit to the US since he was elected in 2014. He would be hosted by Mr Obama at the White House followed by a working lunch. This is the Prime Minister’s fourth visit to the US.
Obama’s leaves office with Modi transformed from persona non grata to celebrated guest.
“All of us are very honored that he took time to come and acknowledge the shuttle catastrophe and the deep cooperation that we have with India in space”, Ms Williams told news agency PTI after her brief interaction with Prime Minister Modi.
“Today’s announcement signals that the USA and India are overcoming the few remaining differences between them”.
In 2015 the India US strategic dialogue was elevated to Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, reflecting shared priorities of generating economic growth, creating jobs, improving the investment climate, and strengthening the middle class in both countries. “We promised India support in its efforts to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the process has started”, the Swiss President said.
Referring to the Climate Change summit in Paris in December past year, he said the joining of forces between India and U.S. helped forge the historical agreement to effectively deal with climate change.
Officials played down the chances of major announcements during the visit, but noted that India is very close to a deal with USA electric giant Westinghouse to build a nuclear plant. Modi addresses a joint meeting of Congress Wednesday.
“Over the past two years, various countries have endeavoured to return India’s stolen cultural heritage”, said Modi who arrived in the U.S. on Monday on the fourth leg of his five-nation tour.
Modi is on a five-country trip with stops so far in Afghanistan, Qatar and Switzerland.
Advertisement
“My sense is this visit will have a significant component of defense cooperation”, said Neelam Deo, a director of Mumbai-based think tank Gateway House and a former consul general for India in NY.
