During a press conference in Vietnam, US President Joe Biden discussed various topics covered during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi. Biden is currently on an official visit to Vietnam following his participation in the G20 Leaders' Summit in Delhi.
The US President highlighted that, as he typically does, he emphasized the importance of upholding human rights, supporting civil society, and ensuring freedom of the press while striving to build a strong and prosperous nation in his discussions with Prime Minister Modi. Biden noted that they accomplished significant work together during their meeting in Delhi.
However, Biden's comments stirred controversy in India, with the Congress party launching an attack on PM Modi. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the situation, saying that President Biden's previous statement, "Na press conference karunga, na karne doonga (won't hold a press conference, won't let you hold one)," had no impact.
Ramesh pointed out that Biden expressed the same sentiments in Vietnam that he conveyed to PM Modi in India regarding respecting human rights, the role of civil society, and the importance of a free press.
Earlier, Ramesh had alleged that Biden's team was denied the opportunity to interact with the media and take questions about his meeting with PM Modi after their bilateral discussions in Delhi.
Biden, during his visit to Hanoi, discussed the substantial discussions he had with PM Modi to strengthen the India-US partnership. He expressed gratitude for PM Modi's leadership and for hosting the G20 Summit in Delhi. The leaders pledged to deepen and diversify their bilateral major defense partnership, welcoming progress in India's procurement of 31 drones and the joint development of jet engines.
The US President also mentioned the significant business conducted in India during the G20 Summit, emphasizing the importance of demonstrating global leadership and commitment to addressing critical global challenges, including inclusive growth, sustainable development, the climate crisis, food security, education, global health, and health security.
Biden asserted that the US showcased itself as a partner with a positive vision for a shared future during the summit, highlighting the country's commitment to solving pressing global issues.
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