New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with US president-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday, November 17. Prime Minister Modi congratulated Joe Biden for the resounding victory in the US elections. This was the first interaction between the two leaders after Biden defeated incumbent president Donald Trump in the US presidential election.

The two leaders reiterated firm commitment to India-US strategic partnership as well as discussed priorities and concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region.

Spoke to US President-elect @JoeBiden on phone to congratulate him. We reiterated our firm commitment to the Indo-US strategic partnership and discussed our shared priorities and concerns – Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2020

In his tweet, Prime Minister Modi said, “Spoke to US President-elect JoeBiden on phone to congratulate him. We reiterated our firm commitment to the Indo-US strategic partnership and discussed our shared priorities and concerns – Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region”.

During the conversation, PM Modi warmly recalled his earlier interactions with Biden, including during his official visits to the United States in 2014 and in 2016. Biden had chaired the Joint Session of the US Congress that was addressed by the Prime Minister during his 2016 visit.

PM Modi was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Joe Biden on November 7 as the US Presidential Election result became evident.

PM Modi congratulates Harris

I also conveyed warm congratulations for VP-elect @KamalaHarris. Her success is a matter of great pride and inspiration for members of the vibrant Indian-American community, who are a tremendous source of strength for Indo-US relations.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 17, 2020

Prime Minister Modi also extended his heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Vice President-elect Senator Kamala Harris. “Her success is a matter of great pride and inspiration for members of the vibrant Indian-American community, who are a tremendous source of strength for Indo-US relations”, he wrote in another tweet.

Furthermore, the interaction came on a day External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar exuded confidence that the ties between India and the US will expand further under Biden’s administration, noting that the US president-elect was part of the period when the bilateral relations underwent a radical transformation.

Readout from Joe Biden’s office:

Minister Narendra Modi of India. The president-elect thanked the prime minister for his congratulations and expressed his desire to strengthen and expand the U.S.-India strategic partnership alongside the first vice president of South Asian descent. The president-elect noted that he looks forward to working closely with the prime minister on shared global challenges, including containing COVID-19 and defending against future health crises, tackling the threat of climate change, launching the global economic recovery, strengthening democracy at home and abroad, and maintaining a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

MEA India readout

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation today with His Excellency Joseph R. Biden, President-elect of the United States of America. Prime Minister Modi warmly congratulated President-elect Biden on his election, describing it as a testament to the strength and resilience of democratic traditions in the United States.

The Prime Minister also extended his heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Vice President-elect Senator Kamala Harris.

The Prime Minister warmly recalled his earlier interactions with H.E. Joseph R. Biden, including during his official visits to the United States in 2014 and in 2016. H.E. Joseph R. Biden had chaired the Joint Session of the U.S. Congress that was addressed by the Prime Minister during his 2016 visit.

The leaders agreed to work closely to further advance the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, built on shared values and common interests. The leaders also discussed their priorities, including containing the Covid-19 pandemic, promoting access to affordable vaccines, tackling climate change, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region.