WASHINGTON: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming state visit to the United States will provide an opportunity for both countries to enhance their focus on commercial and strategic technology partnership. Gina Raimondo, the US Secretary of Commerce, stated that the visit will strengthen collaboration in defense, clean energy, and the medical supply chain.

Raimondo, who had previously visited India and celebrated Holi with her Indian counterpart Piyush Goyal, expressed her enthusiasm for the upcoming visit.

The White House emphasized that the relationship between India and the United States holds significant strategic importance. Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer highlighted the deepening ties and convergence between the two nations, stating that they are aligned on numerous global issues.

During Prime Minister Modi's visit, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will welcome him for an official state visit and dinner at the White House. This will be the third state visit hosted by the Biden administration, showcasing the high level of attention and importance given to the relationship.

The US and India are working towards deepening strategic convergence and expanding cooperation in strategic technology and defense industries. They aim to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific, drive innovation, and jointly address global challenges.

The defense partnership between the two countries involves regular consultations to assess regional developments and enhance cooperation through joint exercises, information sharing, logistics networks, and interoperable communication systems. The US is committed to supporting India's status as a major defense partner through collaborative defense industrial projects.

In the field of emerging technologies, the US and India are promoting cooperation through initiatives like the Initiative on Critical Emerging Technologies (ICET). This initiative catalyzes government, business, and university collaborations in areas such as defense, space, semiconductors, advanced telecommunications, biotechnology, AI, and quantum technologies. The aim is to foster an open, accessible, and secure technology ecosystem that aligns with shared democratic values.

Both countries are also focused on clean energy transition. The United States and India share a vision to decarbonize their economies and deploy clean energy. They are committed to achieving their respective 2030 targets for climate action and energy. The collaboration between India and the US in the clean energy sector holds immense potential for global impact.

As leading centers of innovation, India and the US are driving prosperity through bilateral trade and collaborative initiatives. The two countries are also committed to strengthening multilateralism and international cooperation to address global challenges and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Education is another priority area for cooperation. Efforts are being made to support the growing demand for educational partnerships and facilitate travel between the two countries. Indian students are increasingly choosing the US as their preferred destination for higher education, with the number of visas issued to Indian students reaching a record high.

The relationship between India and the United States is rooted in shared values of democracy, pluralism, tolerance, openness, and respect for human rights.

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