India's foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, has rebuffed US President Joe Biden's recent statement suggesting that "xenophobia" was impeding India's economic progress. According to The Economic Times, Jaishankar made this assertion during a round table discussion hosted by the newspaper on Friday.
Jaishankar emphasized that India's economy remains robust and highlighted its longstanding tradition of openness. He cited the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as evidence of India's welcoming stance towards those in need. The CAA facilitates citizenship for immigrants fleeing persecution in neighboring countries.
Biden's remarks came earlier in the week during a fundraising event for his 2024 re-election campaign, coinciding with the commencement of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. He suggested that "xenophobia" in China, Japan, and India was hindering economic growth in these nations, contrasting this with the US's welcoming stance towards immigrants.
Despite Biden's comments, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasted a slowdown in growth for Asia's three largest economies in 2024 compared to the previous year. However, the IMF projected a modest increase in the US economy's growth rate to 2.7%, attributed in part to the contributions of migrants expanding the country's labor force.
President Biden Calls India, China, Japan, and Russia "Xenophobic" Over Immigration Stance