INDIA TO JOIN PARIS CLIMATE PACT SOON

Washington, June 8: India has agreed to work toward joining the Paris Agreement on climate change this year, India and the US said on Tuesday, giving a jolt of momentum to the international fight to curb global warming.

At a time of heightened tensions in Asia over China’s assertive pursuit of territory, the two countries also pledged to expand military cooperation and outlined principles for cooperation on cyber issues.

US President Barack Obama welcomed PM Narendra Modi to the White House for their seventh meeting since Modi took office in 2014, underscoring the warm relationship between the two leaders and the world’s largest democracies. Modi is to address the US Congress on Wednesday.

“We discussed how we can, as quickly as possible, bring the Paris Agreement into force,” Obama told reporters during talks in the Oval Office.

India’s potential entrance into the agreement this year would help accelerate its enactment, perhaps years ahead of schedule. India is the world’s third largest greenhouse gas emitter after China and the US.

Obama and Modi are both committed to fighting climate change, which is a legacy issue for Obama, who leaves office in January.

The two countries also welcomed preparations that could lead to the building of six nuclear reactors in India by US-based Westinghouse. The US, in a joint statement with India, said it now recognises India as a major defense partner” and would work on technology sharing.

REUTERS Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama talk to mediapersons after their meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington