Harry S. Truman Constructing
Washington, D.C.
12:56 P.M. EDT
VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS: Thanks. Thanks, thanks, thanks. Thanks very a lot. Please have a seat. Thanks. Thanks, thanks.
Mr. Secretary, Madam Ryan, thanks for internet hosting us right here but once more. It’s the honor of Doug and mine to be with you, honoring the friendship and the significance of the connection between India and america.
Prime Minister Modi, we’re honored to welcome you.
We additionally welcome the members of the President’s Cupboard who’re right here and the entire members of Congress who’re right here, together with Speaker Emerita Pelosi, Chairman McCaul, and Rating Member Meeks. (Applause.)
And welcome to all of our distinguished friends.
As I go searching this room, I’m struck by the extraordinary impression Indian People have had on our nation in each side of life.
Take, for instance, the historic variety of members of america Congress with Indian heritage: Representatives Ami Bera — if you happen to’re right here, please stand — (applause) — Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Shri Thanedar. And so they’re often known as the “Samosa Caucus,” for these of you who didn’t know. (Laughter.)
And round our nation, we see the impression of Indian People, from the C suites of American firms to neighborhood companies, from the studios of Hollywood to college analysis labs throughout our nation.
So, as a lot of , India is an important a part of my life. When my sister Maya and I had been rising up, our mom would take us from the Bay Space to India just about each different 12 months. And the aim of these journeys had been many, together with that we’d effectively perceive the place she got here from, what produced her; in order that we may spend time with our grandparents, with my uncle and our chittis; and to essentially perceive the love of excellent idli. (Laughter.)
And we traveled to go to my grandparents in what was then known as Madras. And I’ll let you know, my grandfather was one of the favourite folks in my life, actually. We had been pen buddies, in reality, all through my childhood.
And I used to be the eldest grandchild. And so, as I’m certain a lot of , culturally, to be the eldest has a sure significance. And so, I took full benefit of that standing in our household. (Laughter.) And my grandfather, after all, satisfied me — as he did, I feel, each one in every of his grandchildren — that we had been his favourite. (Laughter.)
But, on these visits, I used to be the one member of our household that my grandfather allowed to hitch him for his morning routine. You see, by the point that we had been going there as youngsters, my grandfather was retired from his profession as a civil servant. And his morning routine, each morning, consisted of taking lengthy walks on the seaside together with his retired buddies. And so they, as retired civil servants, would debate the problems of the day.
So, I might maintain my grandfather’s hand on these walks and hear intently to him and his mates. And I’ll let you know, as a younger lady, I don’t assume I absolutely appreciated the essence and the import of the debates that they might have. However I did clearly perceive and do recall tales concerning the freedom fighters and the nation’s founding heroes and concerning the independence of India. I bear in mind them speaking concerning the significance of preventing corruption and preventing for equality, no matter one’s perception or caste.
All through these walks, I recall my grandfather educating me classes about not simply what it means to have a democracy however to maintain a democracy.
And I do imagine it’s these classes that I discovered at a really younger age that first impressed my curiosity in public service. And I look again now and I do absolutely understand how a lot these conversations influenced me and my considering, and the way they’ve guided me ever since.
The truth is, it’s a massive a part of who I’m right now — these classes I discovered from my grandfather, P.V. Gopalan, and from the dedication, willpower, and braveness of his daughter, my mom, Shyamala. And it’s that being the explanation that I stand earlier than you right now as vp of america. (Applause.)
The historical past and teachings in India and of India haven’t solely influenced me, they, after all, have formed the whole globe, as Secretary Blinken simply described.
All through historical past, India has impressed thousands and thousands of individuals around the globe, whether or not via philosophy and theology, the facility of civil disobedience, or the dedication to democracy.
Certainly, as I journey the world as vp, I’ve seen India’s world impression firsthand. In Southeast Asia, Indian-made vaccines have saved lives and livelihoods. On the continent of Africa, India’s longstanding partnerships assist prosperity and safety. And all through the Indo-Pacific, India helps promote a free and open area.
I additionally know of India’s extraordinary impression with regard to innovation, medication, and science. I do know this as a daughter of California. I do know this as a former district lawyer, lawyer basic, and senator who has labored on know-how with leaders in Silicon Valley. And I do know this, after all, as a daughter of a scientist.
My mom, on the age of 19, arrived in america by herself as a part of the primary wave of Indian college students to journey right here. She selected UC Berkeley as a result of it was often known as being the most effective universities on this planet. And rising up, I bear in mind my mom — our mom spending day and evening and weekends within the lab.
She all the time requested the massive questions and looked for the solutions that might be a clue to enhancing the situation of life. She understood what was doable, unburdened by what has been.
And since then, I give it some thought within the context of the work she did and her research which have led to advances in breast most cancers analysis. And I give it some thought within the context of the thousands and thousands of Indian college students who’ve come to america since to collaborate with American researchers, to resolve the challenges of our time, and to succeed in new frontiers.
Indian innovators have made nice strides in engineering and pc programming. They’ve despatched a mission to Mars. And so they have launched and led know-how firms which are world leaders within the areas of autonomous autos, robotics, cybersecurity, local weather information, and digital finance — all of which may serve to enhance the human situation and uplift the folks.
The purpose right here being: India’s world engagement has not solely been to the advantage of the folks of India but additionally to the advantage of the folks of america and other people around the globe.
So, Mr. Prime Minister, thanks to your position of management to assist India emerge as a world energy within the twenty first century. You’ve got helped to reinvigorate the Quad. Your management of the G20 is making new strides on local weather finance. And you’ve got been a proponent of worldwide establishments and world options to world challenges.
And as a degree of non-public privilege, as chair of the Nationwide House Council, I thanks to your management in area and for our joint work on an Earth science satellite tv for pc, which is able to assist us deal with the local weather disaster.
And I can even thanks as a result of whenever you and I first met on the White Home, I requested you to hitch the Artemis Accords: a dedication to the secure and clear use of area. And right now, I’m pleased to report, as you may have, that you’ve got joined the Artemis Accords. (Applause.)
So, Prime Minister Modi, President Joe Biden and I are grateful to your dedication to strengthen the ties and the relationships between america and India. And we share that dedication. Underneath your management and that of President Biden, our partnership has turn into extra expansive than it has ever been.
Over the previous two and a half years, you and I’ve superior cooperation on local weather, on clear vitality, terrorism, cybercrime, public well being, and vaccine manufacturing.
And through this journey, our international locations have launched new areas of cooperation from synthetic intelligence to semiconductors.
As we glance towards the long run, america and India, the world’s oldest and largest democracies, instinctively flip to one another and are more and more aligned.
So, I’ll con- — shut with this, which is a reminiscence, once more, of my grandfather and what he taught me on these lengthy walks and, particularly, what he taught me concerning the the Aristocracy of public service.
Prime Minister Modi, you and I’ve each devoted our careers to the noble work of public service. And so, to everybody right here right now, I say: It’s incumbent on every of us, inside of presidency and out of doors of presidency, to proceed the struggle for progress and to serve the larger good.
So, I increase a glass. To the enduring bonds between our nations and our folks. And to our continued work collectively, all within the service of the larger good.
Prime Minister. Cheers.
(Vice President Harris gives a toast.)
PRIME MINISTER MODI: (As interpreted.) Vice President Kamala Harris; Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff; Secretary of State and my buddy, Antony Blinken; White Home Cupboard Secretary Evan Ryan; all distinguished friends and representatives: Buddies, at the beginning, I wish to thank Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary Blinken for this grand welcome. Thanks a lot. I’m additionally actually grateful to you each to your heat and sort phrases.
As we speak, to be amongst all of you on the State Division as soon as once more is a matter of nice pleasure for me. Within the final three days, I’ve taken half in a number of conferences and mentioned quite a few subjects. In all of those conferences, there was one factor that was widespread: In all of those conferences, everybody was of the view that the friendship and cooperation between the folks of India and America must turn into even deeper.
The candy melody of the India-U.S. relations consists of the notes of our people-to-people ties. Examples of those relations will be seen at each step.
Vice President Kamala Harris’s mom, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan, got here to America from India in 1958. At the moment, most individuals didn’t have telephones. And so, her mom, she would ship handwritten letters to her household again dwelling.
And at any time, she didn’t let her relation with India break. She saved the relation alive with no matter methods and means she may discover. She made most use of it. For India and her life in America, she saved them each linked. Regardless of 1000’s of miles of bodily distance, India all the time remained near her coronary heart.
And, Madam Vice President, you may have taken this inspiration right now to newer heights. Your achievements are an inspiration to not solely the ladies in America, however to girls in India and girls all the world over. That is actually inspiring. (Applause.)
Secretary Blinken, once I, at first, talked about the phrases like “music” and “notes,” I really had you in thoughts. You recognize, the whole world is aware of about your diplomatic expertise, and I now comprehend it very effectively. There’s additionally quite a lot of buzz about your musical expertise. Even when protecting 1000’s of miles of touring, coping with essentially the most severe of points, you all the time make time for music.
That is extraordinarily inspiring for all of us. Your contribution in strengthening our strategic partnership has been unbelievable, and I thanks for it. Actually, thanks, Secretary Blinken. (Applause.)
Buddies, throughout my go to in 2014, my expensive buddy President Biden was additionally right here with me on the State Division. At the moment, he had referred to India-America partnership as a promise over the horizon.
On this interval of 9 years since then, now we have been on a really lengthy and delightful journey. We have now added and expanded the scope of mutual cooperation in protection and strategic areas. We’re working with renewed belief in areas of recent and rising applied sciences. We’re resolving long-pending and tough points in commerce.
We’re collectively in these new frameworks, akin to Quad and I2U2, and now we have made quite a lot of progress in these. Whether or not it’s on floor or within the skies, within the deep seas or approach up in area, India and America will be seen working collectively.
Certainly, within the true sense, the promise over the horizon right now just isn’t merely a promise however a actuality. And neither is it far over the horizon.
The place we stand right now, the achievements that we take pleasure in are all the results of your desires and your tireless arduous work. I commend you all for it, and I thanks for it.
(Speaks English.) Buddies, on this be aware, I wish to increase a toast. To your good well being and well-being. To our friendship. And to the peace and prosperity of all of our residents. Thanks.
(Prime Minister Modi gives a toast.)
END 1:17 P.M. EDT
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