Joe Biden promises to "work closely" with Indian PM Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: US President-elect Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke for the first time since the US election was declared. During their telephonic conversation, they agreed to work closely to advance the Indo-US strategic partnership. They further went on to discuss their ‘priorities and concerns’.

Taking to his Twitter handle, Modi tweeted, “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.”

"I also conveyed warm congratulations for Vice President-elect 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," PM Modi added.

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According to Biden's transition team, the Democrat leader is interested in working with India on several issues including the pandemic and global economy.

Biden’s team, issuing a statement, informed, “"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”.

Earlier on Tuesday, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar talked up positive ties with the incoming Biden administration, noting that the Democrat is "not a stranger" to India.

Apart from working together to combat terrorism and climate change, and defeat the Covid pandemic, Mr Biden is expected to support India's claim to a permanent UN Security Council seat.

According to a policy paper released during the election, the President-elect feels "no common global challenge can be solved without India and the US working as responsible partners".

Mr Biden rose to India's defense in October, before the election began, after Donald Trump referred to "filthy air" in India as he defended his decision to pull out of the Paris Accord.

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