Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi actually rolled out the crimson carpet for President Biden as he arrived at a G20 summit in New Delhi that can concentrate on the conflict in Ukraine and different world challenges.

Men in blue vests wheeled out the decorous welcome mat for Mr. Biden as he disembarked Air Force One and headed to Mr. Modi’s residence for a bilateral assembly that lasted simply shy of an hour and addressed points in area, microchips, and Mr. Biden’s “moonshot” to sort out most cancers.

Kurt Campbell, the deputy assistant to the president, described the U.S.-India relationship as one in all “undeniable warmth and confidence” whereas acknowledging that Mr. Biden is pushing India to defend press freedoms and democratic rules.

Mr. Modi has bristled on the thought he's falling quick on these fronts, declaring at a White House information convention in June there may be “no discrimination” primarily based on race or creed as critics query his remedy of spiritual minorities and the press.

“I don’t think many of you believed that there would be a press conference in Washington, D.C. and there was. We have insisted on a number of things and I think we’ve seen evidence of that,” Mr. Campbell advised touring reporters. “There are a number of things in India that we believe are quite strong and healthy. And there are other issues that frankly, we continue to have dialogue over. I think … India continues to be a work in progress.”

The path to Mr. Modi’s home Friday was lined with billboards, together with a digital one which had footage of Mr. Modi and Mr. Biden hugging at a White House state dinner. One large signal mentioned: “Nameste,” which in Hindu is a respectful greeting.

Looking forward, the White House says Mr. Biden doesn't plan to fulfill in India with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who's on the G20 summit rather than President Xi Jinping.

“We don’t have a plan for the president to engage with the Chinese premier this weekend at this time,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan advised reporters late Thursday on the Air Force One flight to New Delhi.

Mr. Sullivan had been requested whether or not Mr. Biden would deliver up a Wall Street Journal report that mentioned Chinese individuals tried to achieve entry to U.S. army installations by posing as vacationers.

“We take the security of our installations extremely seriously against any form of threat, and we will continue to do that,” Mr. Sullivan mentioned, earlier than revealing the shortage of a gathering with Mr. Li.

Mr. Sullivan mentioned the 2 leaders haven't spoken to one another immediately because the fall 2022 G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.

Mr. Biden earlier this week mentioned he was upset that Mr. Xi wouldn't attend the summit, although it does supply a possibility for the president to work together with different nations who're skeptical of Beijing’s affect.

Russia can be boycotting the summit because the West condemns President Vladimir Putin for selecting to invade Ukraine.

“I think it is a disappointment for India that Russia and China aren’t here,” Mr. Campbell mentioned.

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