[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8154]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 WELCOMING THE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, later today we will welcome the Prime 
Minister of India as he visits the Capitol. Although this is Narendra 
Modi's fourth trip to the United States as Prime Minister, it marks the 
first time he will address a joint meeting of Congress. It also marks 
the fifth time an Indian Prime Minister has done so since the 1980s. It 
shows how far our relationship has come in recent decades. Mutual 
misgivings have given way to mutual benefits in both the economic and 
security spheres. We are now key trading partners. We are the two 
largest democracies in the world. Our relationship is an important one, 
and there are more benefits that can be shared from future cooperation.
  Today's address by Prime Minister Modi provides an important 
opportunity for all involved--an opportunity to hear his perspective on 
India's economic growth and how he feels we can strengthen the 
strategic partnership between our countries, an opportunity to learn 
more about his ideas for pursuing areas of common ground and advancing 
shared interests, and an opportunity to better understand his view of 
the challenges currently facing India and his outlook for overcoming 
them.
  We welcome Prime Minister Modi. We are interested in learning more 
about his vision, both for India and for the country's continued 
partnership with the United States in the years ahead.

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