Gandhinagar: U.S. Ambassador to India, Nancy Powell met Gujarat Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi here on Thursday.
According to a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy, this meeting was part of the U.S. Mission’s outreach to senior leaders of India’s major political parties in advance of the upcoming national elections.
During her visit to Gujarat, Ambassador Powell will meet with representatives from non-governmental organizations and U.S. and Indian businesses. Her discussions focus on the importance of the U.S.-India relationship, regional security issues, human rights, and American trade and investment in India.
The United States and India are moving forward with a strategic partnership that is broad and deep. Starting last November, Ambassador Powell has shared and listened to views on the U.S.-India relationship.
She continues to emphasize that the U.S.-India partnership is important and strategic, and that the United States looks forward to working closely with the government that the Indian people choose in the upcoming elections.
Earlier on Earlier on February 11, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that it is normal for foreign diplomats or ambassadors of different countries to make request to the External Affairs Ministry to facilitate their meetings with constitutionally elected and functionaries of states.
“In this context, quite sometime ago, the American Embassy did ask the Ministry of External Affairs on this issue, and we have communicated to them, after proper consultations that they could proceed with this meeting with the Chief Minister of Gujarat, who is a constitutionally elected Chief Minister, and it is normal courtesy that we extend this to all Foreign Heads of Missions if they would like to meet and if it is mutually convenient, we provide that facilitation,” Akbaruddin said.
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