PM Narendra Modi, Donald Trump to discuss terrorism, regional security, economic cooperation: MEA

Delhi: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday issues ranging from terrorism and regional security to economic cooperation with US President Donald Trump would be discussed.

Addressing the press, MEA spokesperso​n Gopal Baglay said, "One of the agendas of visit is how to further push and develop economic and commercial cooperation for mutual benefit."

He added that regional security and terrorism would also be on the agenda.

"Our concerns regarding terrorism emanating from Pakistan are well known. Terrorism that emanates from there has affected not only India but also many other countries. We do talk to all countries, our friends and partners on how to counter cross-border terrorism and international terrorism," Bagly said.

"So it is logical to assume that the issues of global and regional security, and terrorism would figure in the discussions among the two leaders" he pointed out.

The MEA spokesperson added that all matters of bilateral interest would be on the table. 

"When the two leaders meet, it is not our practice to constrain the agenda. The leaders have the entire gamut of relationship for them to talk. We can't say which matters would be taken up and which won't be," he maintained.

Baglay said the idea of the bilateral talks would be to give a thrust and direction to the "robust and expanding relationship often described as the defining partnership of the 21st century".

PM Modi is scheduled to leave India on Saturday (June 24) morning. He would first visit Portugal before reaching Washington DC.

He will be meeting US President Donald Trump on June 26 for the first time.

However, they have spoken to each other over phone three times since Trump's inauguration in January this year.

PM Modi last visited US in June 2016 at the invitation of the then US president Barack Obama.

The Prime Minister would meet the CEOs and senior representatives from the business community on June 25, Baglay said. 

"On (June) 26 forenoon, there would be calls on the Prime Minister by senior officials and dignitaries of the US administration. And in the afternoon, we have the official engagement with President Trump," he added, as per IANS.

Asked if the government had prepared differently to deal with Trump, Baglay said the relationship between the two countries was institutional. 

India's concerns over possible changes in H-1B visa rules is also expected to be discussed.

India has time and again raised the issue of H-1B with the US authorities and asked them to liberalise the visa regime as Indian companies contribute significantly to the American economy, as per PTI.

The H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise in specialised fields. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year.

PM Modi's visit comes against the backdrop of Trump's announcement to withdraw the US from the historic Paris Climate Agreement signed by over 190 other countries.

Trump had blamed India and China for the US withdrawal.

"India makes its participation contingent on receiving billions and billions of dollars from developed countries," he had said.

Strongly rejecting Trump's contention, India had asserted it signed the Paris agreement not under duress or for lure of money but due to its commitment to protect environment.

(With Agency inputs)