TIA NEWS /

Minister Narendra Modi today met US President Barack Obama in New York and discussed a host of issues, including stepping up economic engagement and climate change, during their third meeting in about a year. Mr Obama warmly received Mr Modi by hugging him before their meeting, the third between them since May last year. The meeting gave the two leaders an opportunity to build on the discussions they had in New Delhi in January when Obama travelled to India to attend the Republic Day Parade as its Chief Guest.Prime

The meeting gave the two leaders an opportunity to build on the discussions they had in New Delhi in January when Obama travelled to India to attend the Republic Day Parade as its chief guest.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a bilateral meeting with the US President Barack Obama in New York last night. The meeting lasted for an hour. Addressing the media after the meeting, Mr Modi said the two countries have agreed to further deepen cooperation on counter terrorism and radicalism. He said both countries will also cooperate on helping Afghan people combat terrorism and build a peaceful and stable future.

Mr Modi said, economic partnership is a key driver of bilateral relations and the two countries have agreed to work towards a stronger economic cooperation including the Bilateral Investment Treaty and Totalisation Agreement.

Prime Minister said India also sought US support to complete the UN Security council reform process within a fixed time frame while thanking for its support for India’s bid for permanent member.

Briefing media after the meeting, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that the two leaders expressed satisfaction that talks between the two countries on cyber security and aircraft carrier technology working group were proceeding well. He said that Prime Minister sought support of the international community on the issue of terrorism and the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).

In his meeting with the British counterpart David Cameron, the two leaders discussed continuing cooperation in intelligence and cyber security between India and the UK. MEA spokesperson said that Prime Minister Modi invited Britain to become an active partner in Make in India programme.

Prime Minister Modi also held bilateral talk with French President François Hollande. The MEA spokesperson said that Prime Minister Modi raised the issue of Bilateral Investment Agreement between India and EU and hoped that it would be resolved soon.

The Spokesperson said that in all the three meetings Prime Minister Modi had, the issue of climate change came prominently for discussion. He said that Prime Minister emphasized that the approach to climate change should not merely be on defining emission cuts but a positive approach of enabling developing countries through active financial and technological support for sustainable development should be adopted.

India has announced increasing its contribution to UN Peace Keeping operations. Addressing the Leaders’ summit on Peace-keeping at UN headquarters in New York, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India’s commitment to UN Peace-keeping remains strong and will grow. He said India will contribute additional battalion of up to 850 troops, 3 police units with higher representation of female peace-keepers, technical personnel in UN missions and additional training for peace-keepers.

The Prime Minister raised the issue of absence of role of troop contributing countries in the decision making process. He also said, Peace-keeping missions should be deployed prudently, with full recognition of their limitations and in support of political solutions. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that High Level Independent Panel has recognized these issues and hoped for their early consideration.

Prime Minister Modi once again called for the reform of UN Security Council in a fixed time frame to preserve the relevance and effectiveness of the UN.

The Peace-keeping summit organized by UN has been was co-hosted by the United States and 8 other countries. The aim of the summit was to strengthen international peace-keeping process.

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