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Kamala Harris and Indian Prime Minister Modi meet as US eyes Asia
The meeting between the most prominent Indian American and the Indian Prime Minister, who has close ties with former President Donald Trump, assumed greater significance as the Biden administration takes steps to deepen its relationship with one its most important allies in Asia.
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US Vice President Kamala Harris (right) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tour the balcony outside the Vice President’s ceremonial office at Eisenhower Executive Office Building during a meeting on September 23, 2021 in Washington, DC. Modi is on a visit in Washington and will participate in the first in-person Quad Summit with his counterparts from the U.S., Australia and Japan at the White House tomorrow. (AFP/Alex Wong)
U
S Vice President Kamala Harris met India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday and stressed the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region at a time when the United States is trying to solidify its pivot toward Asia and strengthen ties with allies to take on China's growing influence in the region.
The meeting between the most prominent Indian American and the Indian Prime Minister, who has close ties with former President Donald Trump, assumed greater significance as the Biden administration takes steps to deepen its relationship with one its most important allies in Asia.
"The United States, like India, feels very strongly about the pride of being a member of the Indo Pacific, but also the fragility and importance...of those relationships, including maintaining a free and open Indo Pacific," Harris told Modi during the meeting.
The meeting was also a celebratory moment for the 4 million strong Indian diaspora in the United States and Indians back home who take pride in Harris's Indian roots and her ascent.
Modi praised the vice president referring to her as an "inspiration," a leader who is like "family" and called her a "real friend" who has had India's back during the COVID-19 crisis.
"The oldest democracy and the largest democracy...we are indeed natural partners, we have similar values," Modi said.
During the meeting, Harris also welcomed India's decision to resume exports of the COVID-19 vaccine and said both countries must work together to protect democracies around the world.
