Earlier both Ms Melania and President Trump came out on the South Portico of the White House to receive Mr Modi.
It may be mentioned that during 2014 visit to the White House, the then First Lady Michelle Obama was absent at the reception and also had given gave the dinner in honour of PM Modi a miss. In his September 2014 visit to Washington DC, Mr Modi also could not eat anything at the White House dinner he was in the middle of a nine-day Navratri fast - something observed very religiously in Gujarat. Ms Melania and President Trump have hosted China's President Xi Jinping, and his wife, Peng Liyuan in Florida in April. The First Lady has only just moved in to the White House recently this is her first big reception at the Presidential mansion.
Counter terrorism figured prominently at the delegation level parleys at the Indo-US Summit talks between two sides here today where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President Donald Trump pledged to give a new boost to the bilateral ties.
"We will destroy radical Islamic terrorism," President Trump told journalists emerging out of the meeting at the White House. "Both India and USA are global engines of growth. Eliminating terrorism is among the topmost priorities for both India and the US," Prime Minister said.
President Trump said on the eve of his elections, he has said that India will have a "friend" in the White House and now India truly has a "friend".
He described India as an "incredible nation" and the Constitution of both the countries rightly give the needful emphasis on the power of the people and thus the phrase - "We The People".
"Prime Minister Modi and I understand the need for cooperation between two countries," he said.
Mr Trump said "we are both world leaders" in social media and both believe in the power of the people. "Your accomplishments have been vast," President Trump said about India and the country's achievement and said both he and PM Modi will try to create jobs.
President Trump lauded India's ensuing major tax reforms Goods and Services Tax (GST) and also the Indian people's contribution for terror-ravaged Afghanistan.
"In just two weeks you will begin to implement largest tax overhaul in your country's history, we are doing that also," Trump said.
cooperation.
Prime Minister Modi also invited US President to visit India along with his family.
PM Modi also invited Trump's daughter Ivanka to lead a business delegation to India.
"Prime Minister Modi invited my daughter Ivanka to lead US delegation to the global entrepreneurship in India, and I believe she has accepted," Trump said.
The US President said it is important that barriers be removed for export of the US goods to India and for reduction of trade deficit.
"The relation between the US and India has never been stronger," Trump said.
In a major diplomatic development, the United States today in a clear manner vindicated India's well known stand vis-a-vis proxy war by Pakistan and in a strong message urged Islamabad to "expeditiously" bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks.
At their maiden bilateral talks, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi "condemned continued provocations" by North Korea and both the leaders pledged to work together to counter the North Korea's weapons of mass destruction programs, including by holding accountable all parties that support these programs.
"The leaders called on Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries," a jointstatement issued at the end of bilateral talks between President Trump
and Prime Minister Modi said here.
As global nonproliferation partners, the United States expressed "strong support" for India’s early membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Wassenaar Arrangement, and the Australia Group.
"President Trump reaffirmed the support of the United States for India’s permanent membership on a reformed UN Security Council," the statement said.
Both sides committed to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups including Al-Qa’ida, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, D-Company, and their affiliates.
India appreciated the United States designation of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and called it an "evidence" of the commitment of the
United States to end terror in all its forms.
The decision against Pakistan-based terrorsit Salahuddin, who originally hailed from Jammu and Kashmir, was taken just hours before Trump-Modi maiden meet.
President Trump vowed to "destroy radical Islamic terrorism" and said both the US and India have been affected by the "evils of terrorism".
"Eliminating terrorism is among the topmost priorities for us," Modi told reporters in his joint address with President Trump.
In indication of greater cooperation to come in time to come between India, the US and Japan, Mr Trump also maintained that military of both the US and India are "working every day to enhance cooperation between our military forces".
He further said next month they will join together with the Japanese navy to take part in the largest maritime exercise ever conducted in the Indian Ocean.
"..... we are both determined to destroy terrorist organisations and the radical ideology that drives them. We will destroy radical Islamic terrorism," Trump said.
The joint statement asked Pakistan to "expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, Pathankot attacks and other cross-border terrorist attacks perpetrated by Pakistan-based groups." Mr Modi also said that "Fighting terrorism and doing away with the safe shelters, sanctuaries, and safe havens will be an important part of our cooperation."
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said the two nations noted that in their joint statement that terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought in every part of the world.
India is the fastest growing economy in the world Trump said and added, "We hope we will be catching up you very soon," Trump said.
Both leaders also expressed concern over rising instability in Afghanistan caused by terrorism, and agreed to continue strengthening coordination for ensuring peace.
Mr Trump insisted that the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and ballistic programs ought to be tackled "rapidly".
"The North Korean regime is causing tremendous problems and is something that has to be dealt with, and probably dealt with rapidly," the US President said.
They also resolved to pursue increased commercial engagement in a manner that advances the principles of free and fair trade.
"To this end, the United States and India plan to undertake a comprehensive review of trade relations with the goal of expediting regulatory processes; ensuring that technology and innovation are appropriately fostered, valued, and protected; and increasing market access in areas such as agriculture, information technology, and manufactured goods and services".
President Trump and Prime Minister Modi further committed to strengthening cooperation to address excess capacity in industrial sectors.
Surveying United States-India energy ties and the two countries’ respective energy strategies, the leaders affirmed the continued importance of their Strategic Energy Partnership and of leveraging new opportunities to elevate cooperation to enhance global energy security.
"The leaders called for a rational approach that balances environment and climate policy, global economic development, and energy security needs," the joint statement said.
Mr Trump also said India was the fastest growing economy.
He expressed pleasure about an order by an Indian airline company for 100 new American planes, calling it one of the largest orders of its kind. This will support thousands of American jobs.
"We're also looking forward to exporting more American energy to India as your economy grows, including major long- term contracts to purchase American natural gas, which are right now being negotiated, and we will sign them," he said.Referring to the GST reform to be implemented across India from July 1, President Trump said it was "the largest tax overhaul in your country's history".
"You have a big vision for improving infrastructure, and you are fighting government corruption, which is always a grave threat to democracy," Trump told Mr Modi.
Washington, Jun 27 (UNI) Waxing eloquent President Donald Trump asserted that he will work proactively with India to fight Islamic terrorism - a pledge responded with equal enthusiasm by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,who said the fight also should be directed against "safe heavens" of terrorism.
President Trump yesterday vowed to "destroy radical Islamic terrorism" and said that both the US and India have been affected by the "evils of terrorism".
Addressing media at White House after delegation level talks with PM Modi and also one-on-chat, Mr Trump said, "The relationship between the United States and India is very, very strong and very, very powerful". “The future of our partnership has never looked brighter,” he said.
Addressing the joint press conference - where however both the leaders did not take any question - Prime Minister Modi said fight against terrorism their "safe heavens" is an important part of our
cooperation. Prime Minister Modi also invited US President to visit India along with his family.
PM Modi also invited Trump's daughter Ivanka to lead a business delegation to India.
"We agree on most things. And I would say, by the end of the day we'll agree on everything. I have a feeling," Mr Trump said perhaps in a jovial mood. Injecting a lighter element, Mr Trump described himself and Mr Modi, as "world leaders in social media" and said both leaders believe in the power of people and directly communicating with them. The reference is obvious to the fact that the American president has approximately 32.5 million Twitter followers, while PM Modi – who has been makes prolific use of the platform – has approximately 31 million followers.
“We’re believers in giving the citizens of our country the opportunity to hear directly from their elected officials and for us to hear directly from them. I guess it’s worked very well in both cases," he said.
Earlier after according a warm welcome in the company of the First Lady, Mr Trump praised Modi a a "great prime minister" and credited him for economic growth in India.
ends
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