U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shared with him the U.S.’ perspective on developments in the region and beyond.”It looks like the rains this time have warmly welcomed you,” PM Modi said as he greeted Mr Kerry and the US delegation for talks.
Mr Kerry’s motorcade was caught in two hours of traffic chaos when he arrived in Delhi on Monday night for the annual US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue that seeks to deepen the bond between the world’s two largest democracies.
Mr. Kerry, along with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, also discussed progress in bilateral engagement since Prime Minister’s visit to the U.S. in June 2016, apart from briefing him on the second India-U.S. Strategic & Commercial Dialogue that concluded on August 30, 2016, according to a PMO release.
Mr. Modi also conveyed that he looked forward to meeting President Barack Obama at the G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, China.
Previously on Wednesday, on the way to deliver a speech to students after another heavy downpour, his car inched through streets that in places looked like fast-flowing rivers. At times the water reached the top of its wheels.
“You guys all deserve an award for getting here today. I don’t know if you came in boats or amphibious vehicles of some kind, but thank you so much for making the effort,” he told the students at the Indian Institute of Technology.
Roads were blocked off as knots of workers battled to drain the floodwaters.
As the US delegation approached PM Modi’s office, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker fell when her heel got caught in a crack on the sidewalk. Mr Kerry came to her aid, picking up a binder she had dropped, and steadying her as they made their way into the meeting.
Ms Pritzker looked shaken but was unhurt.
Earlier, she told reporters that one of the focus of the India-US dialogue was on “smart” cities and infrastructure.
