Prime Minister Modi's Engagements Kick Off with Warm Welcome from Indian Diaspora in Delaware

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Delaware for the Quad Summit, meeting with President Biden and other leaders. His arrival was marked by enthusiastic receptions from the Indian diaspora both at Philadelphia International Airport and at his hotel. Modi's itinerary includes key meetings and addresses in New York over three days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Hotel Du Pont in Delaware on Saturday morning (local time) ahead of the QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) Leaders' Summit, which is to be held in US President Joe Biden's hometown. Upon his arrival, PM Modi greeted and interacted with members of the Indian diaspora gathered to welcome him.

Before reaching the hotel in Wilmington, Delaware, PM Modi landed at Philadelphia International Airport, where he received a warm welcome from the Indian community. Modi took the time to engage with the excited supporters outside the airport.

Randhir Jaiswal, the Ministry of External Affairs' official spokesperson, commented on PM Modi's arrival: "PM Narendra Modi arrives in the historic city of Philadelphia. An action-packed day with engagements in bilateral and Quad formats in Wilmington, Delaware lies ahead." Members of the Indian diaspora expressed their excitement about Modi's visit, with one individual stating, "We live in the US as cultural ambassadors of Modi ji... We want to make India proud by following his guidance." The atmosphere was charged with chants of "Modi, Modi" as the community prepared for the PM's arrival at the hotel.

Dilip Joshi, a member of the Indian diaspora, remarked, "It has never happened before that leaders of four countries have come to Wilmington, Delaware. We consider ourselves lucky that our PM has come here with our President." During his three-day visit to the US from September 21-23, PM Modi will engage in a bilateral meeting with President Biden, attend the Quad summit, address the diaspora in New York, and speak at the Summit of the Future at the United Nations General Assembly.

In his departure statement before leaving India, PM Modi expressed his anticipation for joining his fellow leaders—US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida—for the Quad Summit. The gathering highlights the importance of peace, progress, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. This will be the first time that President Biden has invited a foreign leader to Wilmington, demonstrating his close connections with each dignitary: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

At the Quad Summit, the leaders will review the progress made by the Quad over the past year and set the agenda for the next year to help Indo-Pacific countries achieve their development goals and aspirations. The Ministry of External Affairs indicated that PM Modi will join discussions on regional security and cooperation with US President Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The last Quad Leaders' Summit was held in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 20 last year. In addition to a Joint Statement, the "Quad Leaders' Vision Statement—Enduring Partners for the Indo-Pacific" was released, emphasizing principles such as sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful dispute resolution. From Wilmington, PM Modi will travel to New York. On September 22, he will address a community event for the Indian diaspora at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale. About 4.4 million Indian Americans/people of Indian origin reside in the US, making up the third-largest Asian ethnic group in the country.

PM Modi's schedule also includes a business roundtable with CEOs of leading US companies in cutting-edge sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, and biotechnology. Lastly, PM Modi will speak at the 'Summit of the Future' (SOTF) at the United Nations on September 23. The summit's theme is 'Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow'. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)