Over the past two years, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Barack Obama have developed not only a strong partnership between their two countries, but a close personal friendship as well.
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Reflecting Modi’s call to embrace wildlife conservation as a development imperative, the two leaders also welcomed the signing of an MOU to enhance cooperation on Wildlife Conservation and Combating Wildlife Trafficking.
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.
“Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann has promised India support in its efforts to become a member of the NSG”, said Swarup at press conference on Monday in Washington.
Obama underlined that India needs technology which is critical for its progress and prosperity. “I also mentioned the Prime Minister’s very effective participation in the Nuclear Security Summit”, he said. “India similarly has begun its processes to work toward this shared objective”, the White House said. Our youth power in partnership with U.S. will serve mankind.
But the ban was lifted after Modi was sworn into office in May 2014 and he has since made four U.S. visits – two to Washington – while Obama has twice travelled to India. US President Barack Obama said India’s entry into the NSG has been discussed and will ensure that the nuclear weapons don’t fall into the wrong hands.
“More people are enslaved in India than in any other country in the world, with millions of Indian men, women, and children trapped in debt bondage and forced to perform strenuous work”, said Amy Sobel of the Washington-based Human Rights First pressure group.
Prime Minister Modi held wide-ranging talks with prominent business leaders from Switzerland including officials of ABB, Lafarge, Novartis, Nestle, Rieter and Roche. Congressmen themselves wrote to the Speaker (of the House of Representatives) to invite Modi to address the joint session of the Congress.
At the outset, Obama recollected his visit to India in January past year as Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations and “the incredible hospitality” he received.
I have fond memories of India, when I took part in Republic Day.
There are the gushing comments: PM Modi “transcends the ancient and the modern”, President Obama wrote in Time magazine. But on balance, relations are such that both countries’ interests are served, and no vital interest is threatened… “Expect to see Modi highlight and defend his government’s two-year record on the economy and make a pitch for USA businesses to increase their involvement in India – particularly some of Modi’s flagship initiatives such as “Make in India” and ‘Digital India'”.
Wednesday’s address to Congress will finish an improbable turnaround for Modi, going to prize in over two years.
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The U.S. and India also said they’d agreed to try to use a decades-old ozone-protection treaty to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, refrigerants that are potent greenhouse gases, through an amendment that would also provide funds to help poorer countries implement it.
