India-US ties reach level of comprehensive global strategic partnership: Modi

New Delhi: India and the US decided to take their relations to the level of comprehensive global strategic partnership.
After holding delegation level talks for nearly two hours at Hyderabad House here on the second day of the maiden visit of the US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described India-US ties as the most important partnership of the 21st century.
In a joint statement, Mr Modi said that the two sides discussed every important aspect of US-India partnership, be it Defence and security, energy strategic partnership, trade or people to people ties.
He further said that strengthening Defence ties between India and US was an important aspect of the partnership.
In his statement, President Trump announced expansion of Defence cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than US three billion dollars of advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters which were finest in the world and would enhance joint Defence capabilities of the two countries.
Mr Modi stated that Commerce Ministers of both the nations have had positive talks on trade. 'Both of us have decided that our teams should give legal shape to these trade talks. We also agreed to open negotiations on a big trade deal'.
The PM further stated that the most important foundation of the special India-US relationship was people to people contact and described the ties as being 'people-centric'. He observed that professionals, students and the Indian diaspora in the US have a major contribution in strengthening ties.
Hailing cooperation with the US in homeland security and counter-terrorism, Mr Modi asserted that both India and the US have resolved to step up efforts to make those responsible who support terrorism, narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.
On his part, President Trump said that he and the PM discussed the importance of a secure 5G wireless network and the need for this emerging technology to be a tool for freedom, progress, prosperity.