Time for India, US to work together for the world: PM Narendra Modi

WASHINGTON: India-US ties have transitioned into a "new" era, moving beyond working for only mutual benefit, and it is time that the two countries start working together for the betterment of the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.

"I would always want that India and the United States come together, come closer, become stronger and through their shared values do something for the benefit of the world," he said at a Congressional reception yesterday hosted in his honour by the Senate and House Foreign Affairs Committees in association with the India Caucus in the two Chambers.

Modi said now India-US relationship has entered a new phase in which the two countries have moved beyond the era of working only for mutual benefit.

"We have transitioned into a new era where we do not think about what we can get from America or what America can get for us. We have gone way beyond that now. Right now what we are thinking about is that how can the United States and India can work together to benefit the world," he said.

Be it the issue of climate change, terrorism, poverty or health sector, India and the US can work together for the benefit of the world, he added.

"We are marching ahead with this commitment. This has been further strengthened in my two day's visit to the US," Modi said at the reception, attended by top American lawmakers and select members of the Indian-American community.

"It's time to take our relationship beyond diplomacy. It is going far beyond that. As I understand that we can join together wherein the United States and India, two big democracies can do a lot together for the world. This is the commitment that I have been feeling," he said.

Modi said earlier in the day, he had the opportunity to address the Congress, which he thinks was a big honour.

"It is not just a personal honour for me, not just for the prime minister of a country. It is an honour extended to 1.25 billion people representing a country with an age-old culture, with a profound respect for humanity and that believes in the philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutubmkam', which means the world is one village," the Prime Minister said.