President Trump: Thank you very much.
Prime Minister Modi, thank you for being here
with us today.
It's a great honor to welcome the leader of the
world's largest democracy to the White House.
I have always had a deep admiration for your
country and for its people, and a profound
appreciation for your rich culture,
heritage and traditions.
This summer, India will celebrate the 70th
anniversary of its independence, and on
behalf of the United States, I want to
congratulate the Indian people on this magnificent
milestone in the life of your very, very
incredible nation.
During my campaign, I pledged that if elected,
India would have a true friend in the White House.
And that is now exactly what you have --
a true friend.
The friendship between the United States and India is
built on shared values, including our shared
commitment to democracy.
Not many people know it, but both American and the
Indian constitutions begin with the same three very
beautiful words: We the people.
The Prime Minister and I both understand the
crucial importance of those words, which helps
to form the foundation of cooperation between
our two countries.
Relations between countries are strongest
when they are devoted to the interests of the
people we serve.
And after our meetings today, I will say that the
relationship between India and the United States has
never been stronger, has never been better.
I'm proud to announce to the media, to the American
people, and to the Indian people, that Prime
Minister Modi and I are world leaders in social media --
(laughter)
-- we're believers -- giving
the citizens of our countries the opportunity
to hear directly from their elected officials,
and for us to hear directly from them.
I guess it's worked very well in both cases.
I am thrilled to salute you, Prime Minister Modi,
and the Indian people for all that you are
accomplishing together.
Your accomplishments have been vast.
India has the fastest
growing economy in the world.
We hope we're going to be catching you very soon in
terms of percentage increase,
I have to tell you that.
We're working on it.
In just two weeks, you will begin to implement
the largest tax overhaul in your country's history
-- we're doing that also, by the way -- creating
great new opportunities for your citizens.
You have a big vision for improving infrastructure,
and you are fighting government corruption,
which is always a grave threat to democracy.
Together, our countries can help chart an
optimistic path into the future, one that unleashes
the power of new technology, new
infrastructure, and the enthusiasm and excitement
of very hardworking and very dynamic people.
I look forward to working with you, Mr. Prime
Minister, to create jobs in our countries, to grow
our economies, and to create a trading
relationship that is fair and reciprocal.
It is important that barriers be removed to the
export of U.S.
goods into your markets, and that we reduce our
trade deficit with your country.
I was pleased to learn about an Indian Airlines
recent order of 100 new American planes, one of
the largest orders of its kind, which will support
thousands and thousands of American jobs.
We're also looking forward to exporting more American
energy to India as your economy grows, including
major long-term contracts to purchase American
natural gas, which are right now being
negotiated, and we will sign them.
Trying to get the price up a little bit.
To further our economic partnership, I'm excited
to report that the Prime Minister has invited my
daughter, Ivanka, to lead the U.S.
delegation to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in
India this fall.
And I believe she has accepted.
Finally, the security partnership between the
United States and India is incredibly important.
Both our nations have been struck by the evils of
terrorism, and we are both determined to destroy
terrorist organizations and the radical ideology
that drives them.
We will destroy radical Islamic terrorism.
Our militaries are working every day to enhance
cooperation between our military forces.
And next month, they will join together with the
Japanese navy to take place in the largest
maritime exercise ever conducted in the vast
Indian Ocean.
I also thank the Indian people for their
contributions to the effort in Afghanistan, and
for joining us in applying new sanctions against the
North Korean regime.
The North Korean regime is causing tremendous
problems and is something that has to be dealt with,
and probably dealt with rapidly.
Working together, I truly believe our two countries
can set an example for many other nations, make
great strides in defeating common threats, and make
great progress in unleashing amazing
prosperity and growth.
Prime Minister Modi, thank you again for joining me
today, and for visiting our country and our
wonderful White House and Oval Office.
I enjoyed our very productive conversation
this afternoon, and look forward to its
continuation tonight at dinner.
The future of our partnership has never
looked brighter.
India and the United States will always be tied
together in friendship and respect.
Prime Minister Modi, thank you very much.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
Prime Minister Modi: (As interpreted.)
President Donald Trump and First
Lady, Vice President, ladies and gentlemen,
ladies and gentlemen of the media: Right from the
opening tweet to the end of our talks, President
Trump's welcome, which was filled with friendliness,
his warm welcome to the White House by himself and
the First Lady, I would like to thank both of you
from the bottom of my heart for
this warm welcome.
I would also like to give a special thanks to you,
President Trump, for having spent so much time
with me, for having spoken such kind words about me
and my country.
And I would like to tell you that I'm eager to
welcome your daughter to India for the
Entrepreneurship Summit.
President Trump, I'd once again like to thank you
for the time that you have spent with me.
I'd like to give you special thanks for that.
My visit and our talks today will mark a very
important page in the history of the
collaboration and cooperation between our
two nations.
The talks between his Excellency, President
Trump, and myself today have been extremely
important from all points of view, for several
reasons: Because they were based on mutual trust;
because of the convergence and similarities they
revealed in our values, and our priorities, and in
our concerns and interests; because they
focused on the highest levels of achievement in
our cooperation, and mutual support, and
partnership; because our two countries are global
engines of growth; because the all-around or
comprehensive economic growth and joint progress
of both countries and both societies is the main
objective for both the President and myself, and
will remain so; because the top priority for both
President Trump and myself is to protect our society
from global challenges like terrorism; and
because our aim is the strengthening of India and
the USA -- two great democracies in the world
-- friends.
Our robust strategic partnership is such that
it touches upon almost all areas of human endeavor.
In our conversation today, President Trump and I have
discussed all dimensions of India-U.S.
relations at length.
Both nations are committed to a bilateral
architecture that will take our strategic
partnership to new heights.
In this relationship, in both countries, increased
productivity, growth, job creation, and breakthrough
technologies -- an engagement towards all
these are, and will remain, strong drivers of
our cooperation, and will give further momentum to
our relationship.
We consider the USA as our primary partner for
India's social and economic transformation in
all our flagship programs and schemes.
I am sure that the convergence between my
vision for a "new India and President Trump's
vision for "making America great again" will add new
dimensions to our cooperation.
I am very clear about the fact that India's
interests lie in a strong, and prosperous, and
successful America.
In the same way, India's development and its
growing role at the international level are in
the USA's interest.
One of our common priorities will be the
development of trade, commerce, and investment links.
And in this regard, in the technology, innovation,
and knowledge-economy sectors, the expansion and
deepening of cooperation is also among our
priorities.
Towards this end, we shall take steps to further
strengthen our successful digital partnership.
Friends, we are not just partners by chance.
We are also partners in dealing with current and
future challenges that we may be faced with.
Today, during our meeting, we discussed the serious
challenges of terrorism, extremism, and
radicalization, which are the major challenges
facing the world today.
And we have agreed to enhance our cooperation in
fighting against these scourges.
Fighting terrorism and doing away with the safe
shelters, sanctuaries, and safe havens will be an
important part of our cooperation.
With respect to our common concerns on terrorism, we
will also enhance our sharing of intelligence,
and exchange information to deepen and expand our
policy coordination as far as possible.
We also spoke at length on regional issues.
The increasing instability, due to
terrorism, in Afghanistan is one of our common concerns.
Both India and America have played an important
role in rebuilding Afghanistan and
ensuring its security.
In order to attain our objectives for peace and
stability in Afghanistan, we will maintain close
consultation and communication with the U.S.
to enhance coordination between our two nations.
In the Indo-Pacific region, in order to
maintain peace, stability, and prosperity in the
region, this is also another objective of our
strategic cooperation in this area.
The increasing possibilities for
enhancing cooperation in order to protect our
strategic interests will continue to determine the
dimensions of our partnership.
We will continue to work with the USA in this region.
With regard to security-related
challenges, our enhanced and growing defense and
security cooperation is extremely important.
We have spoken at length on this subject as well.
The strengthening of India's defense
capabilities, with the help of USA, is something
that we truly appreciate.
We have also decided to enhance maritime security
cooperation between the two nations.
President Trump and I have also spoken about
strengthening bilateral defense technology and our
trade and manufacturing partnership, which we
believe will be mutually beneficial to us.
We also discussed international issues and
our common strategic interests.
In this context, we are extremely grateful for the
continued support of the United States for India's
membership of international institutions
and regimes.
We truly appreciate the support, because this is
also in the interest of both our nations.
President Trump, I thank you for your feelings of
friendship towards India and myself.
I deeply appreciate your strong commitment to the
enhancement of our bilateral relations.
I am sure that under your leadership, our mutually
beneficial strategic partnership will gain new
strength, new positivity, and will reach new
heights, and that your vast and successful
experience in the business world will lend an
aggressive and forward-looking agenda
to our relations.
In this journey of India-America relations, I
think I would like to thank you for providing
great leadership.
Be assured that in this joint journey of our two
nations towards development, growth and
prosperity, I will remain a driven, determined, and
decisive partner.
Excellency, my visit today and the extensive talks I
have held with you have been very successful,
very fruitful.
And before leaving this mic, I would like to
invite you to India, along with your family.
And I hope that you will give me the opportunity to
welcome you and host you in India.
And at the end, once again, I'd like to thank
you for the warm welcome extended by you and the
First Lady to myself and my delegation, from the
bottom of my heart.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
President Trump: Thank you very
much, everybody.
I appreciate it.
Thank you.