Ahead of US visit, Modi says looking forward to meeting ‘my friend’ Trump

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said he is looking forward to meeting his “friend” US President Donald Trump, as he embarked on a four-day visit to France and the US.

“I look forward to meeting my friend, President Trump. Although this will be our first meeting following his historic electoral victory and inauguration in January, I have a very warm recollection of working together in his first term in building a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between India and the US,” Modi said in a statement released ahead of the visit.

Modi will be in Paris between 10-12 February at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron to co-chair the AI Action Summit, a gathering of the world leaders and global tech CEOs.

At the AI Action Summit in Paris, the statement said delegates would exchange views on a “collaborative approach to AI technology for innovation and larger public good in an inclusive, secure and trustworthy manner.”

From France, Modi will proceed on a two-day visit to the US at the invitation of Trump, the statement said.

The visit will be an opportunity “to build upon the successes of our collaboration in his first term and develop an agenda to further elevate and deepen our partnership, including in the areas of technology, trade, defence, energy, and supply chain resilience,” Modi said in the statement.

“We will work together for the mutual benefit of the people of our two countries and shape a better future for the world,” he added.