US President Joe Biden was all praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Quad meeting held on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, stating that he is "running out of tickets" ahead of the latter's upcoming US visit next month.
Calling Modi "very popular", Biden reportedly said: You are demonstrating that democracies matter. You are causing me a real problem. Next month we have a dinner (during PM Modi's visit to the US in June) for you in Washington. Everyone in the whole country wants to come. I have run out of tickets. You think I am kidding? Ask my team. I am getting phone calls from people I have never heard of before. Everyone from movie actors to relatives. You are too popular," sources quoted him saying.
PM Narendra Modi will embark on an official state visit to the United States on June 22. During his visit, PM Modi will be hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a state dinner at the White House, the Ministry of External Affairs informed through a press statement.
Biden also praise Modi for "making a significant impact on everything, including what the other three members doing in QUAD." "You also made a fundamental shift in climate. You have influence in Indo-Pacific. You are making a difference," Biden added.
VIDEO | US President Joe Biden walks up to PM Modi to greet him at the Working Session of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan. pic.twitter.com/ffILFd23Hf
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 20, 2023
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was also present when US President was speaking to PM Modi. The Australian premier recalled how more than 90,000 people welcomed PM Modi during the victory lap at the Narendra Modi stadium.
To this, Joe Biden told PM Modi, "I should take your autograph."
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister left Japan for Papua New Guinea for the second leg of his three-nation tour. Modi's visit to Papua New Guinea will be the first ever by any Indian prime minister.
"After a successful visit to Japan, PM @narendramodi emplanes for Papua New Guinea, for the second leg of his three-nation tour," the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted.
Modi arrived in Hiroshima on Friday to attend three sessions at the G7 summit following an invitation by Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.
"It has been a fruitful visit to Japan. Met several world leaders during the G-7 Summit and discussed a variety of issues with them. Gratitude to PM @kishida230, the Government and the people of Japan for their warmth," the prime minister said in a tweet.
The group of seven, comprising the US, France, the UK, Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan, represent the world's richest democracies. Under its G7 presidency, Japan invited India and seven other countries to the summit as guests.
During his stay in Japan, he met several world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese counterpart Kishida, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and British Premier Rishi Sunak.
Modi along with US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese also attended the 3rd in-person Qaud Summit.
Modi also offered to host the next Quad Leaders' Summit in India in 2024.
Modi is scheduled to land in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea later on Sunday. In Papua New Guinea, he will host the third summit of the Forum for IndiaPacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) on Monday jointly with Prime Minister James Marape.
"I am grateful that all 14 Pacific Island Countries (PIC) have accepted the invitation to attend this important summit (FIPIC)," Modi had said earlier.
FIPIC was launched during his visit to Fiji in 2014. In the third and final leg of the trip, Modi will visit Australia from May 22 to 24.
