Modi, Trump talk on phone, discuss China
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening had a “warm and productive” conversation in which they discussed the tense situation on the IndiaChina border. Mr Trump also invited PM Modi to attend the next G-7 Summit to be held at Camp David, US, sometime in September or later this year and spoke of his desire to expand the G-7 grouping to include India.
The invite was welcomed by PM Modi.
Other issues discussed during the phone call included the current civil unrest in the US and the need for reforms in the World Health Organisation amid the global coronavirus pandemic. “The two leaders also exchanged views on other topical issues, such as... the situation on the India-China border,” the ministry of external affairs said in a statement. Details of what they discussed was not known.
“Had a warm and productive conversation with my friend President @realDonaldTrump. We discussed his plans for the US presidency of G-7, the Covid-19 pandemic, and many other issues. The richness and depth of India-US consultations will remain an important pillar of the post-Covid global architecture,” PM Modi tweeted. ■
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening had a “warm and productive” conversation in which they discussed the tense situation on the India-China border. Mr Trump also invited PM Modi to attend the next G7 Summit to be held at Camp David, US, sometime in September or later this year and spoke of his desire to expand the G-7 grouping to include India.
The invite was welcomed by PM Modi.
Other issues discussed during the phone call included the current civil unrest in the US and the need for reforms in WHO amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
“The two leaders also exchanged views on other topical issues, such as... the situation on the IndiaChina border,” the ministry of external affairs said. Details of what they discussed was not known.
The phone conversation
between the two leaders follows a controversy last week when President Trump had claimed that an “unhappy” PM Modi had spoken to him about the standoff with China but the Indian government said that no such conversation had taken place.
“Had a warm and productive conversation with my friend President @realDonaldTrump. We discussed his plans for the US presidency of G-7, the Covid-19 pandemic, and many other issues. The richness and depth of India-US consultations will remain an important pillar of the post-Covid global architecture,” PM Modi tweeted.
The MEA in its statement said that during the conversation, PM Modi also expressed “concern” regarding the ongoing civil disturbances in the US, and “conveyed his best wishes for an early resolution of the situation”. The US is currently experiencing severe unrest following the death of an African-American man at the hands of cops.
The MEA also said Mr Trump — while inviting PM Modi for the G-7 Summit — conveyed his desire to “expand the ambit” of the G-7 grouping beyond the existing membership, “to include other important countries including India”.