Yoga, CEOs, bilaterals in Modi's US visit sked

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s packed State visit to the US next week is expected to lead to several understandings and remove barriers in the way of taking cooperation in crucial areas such as defence and critical technologies to the next level, people familiar with the matter said.

- Rezaul H Laskar

Aside from the pomp and symbolism associated with a State visit, the two sides are firming up engagements between Modi and US President Joe Biden to pave the way for closer alignment between the economic and technology ecosystems of the two countries and eliminating hurdles to building more resilient supply chains, the people said. The external affairs ministry on Friday announced that Modi will visit the US during June 20-24, when he will be hosted by Biden at the White House and address a joint session of the Congress. This is only the third State visit hosted by Biden, following those for French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The ministry said Modi will travel from the US to Egypt during June 24-25 to meet President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and build on trade and strategic relations between the two sides. This will be Modi’s first visit to Egypt.

Modi’s State visit to the US, at the invitation of Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, will commence in New York, where the Prime Minister will lead celebrations marking the International Day of Yoga at the UN headquarters on June 21. Thereafter, Modi will travel to Washington, where he will be given a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22. Unlike past such welcomes, more than a thousand people are expected to be at the event, including members of the diaspora.