The United States President Barack Obama praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India’s progress on economic reforms.

According to the sources present at the bilateral meeting between two leaders on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit,  the meeting was “warm and friendly”.  “President Obama said the passage of GST will unleash significant economic activity, and also praised the Prime Minister’s vision of entrepreneurship and innovation which would be very important for a country like India.”

“Government has made no decision as yet on ratifying the Paris Agreement. Domestic processes in this regard are still underway. A decision will be taken only when they are completed,” the MEA spokesperson said.

The Officials said that, President Obama “underscored that the United States strongly supports India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)” during the bilateral meet.

This was the 8th bilateral meeting of PM Modi with President Obama in the last two years, ended with an invitation to the outgoing American president to visit India.

The Hindu reported, Promising to be a “strong partner of India and help in any way I can”, President Obama told Mr Modi that he would welcome any opportunity to visit India, adding that he and U.S. first lady Michelle Obama were “yet to see the Taj Mahal”, a reference to his last visit to India in 2015, when a trip to Agra was cancelled at the last minute.

Also Read: Obama, Modi to have bilateral meeting in Laos!

Nandini