The Impressive TimesNEW DELHI: US Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, and their three children, arrived in India for a four-day official visit from April 21 to 24. The Vance family was warmly welcomed at Palam airport by Union Minister of Railways and Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and a delegation of American officials. This marks JD Vance’s first official visit to India, which is seen as a significant step in strengthening the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries. The visit is expected to further bolster the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, covering a wide range of issues including trade, economic cooperation, and defense collaboration. The Vance family’s itinerary includes stops in Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, with a mix of formal diplomatic meetings and cultural exploration. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal extended a warm welcome to Vice President JD Vance, his wife Usha, and the entire US delegation, acknowledging the warm reception by Minister Vaishnaw at the airport. Jaiswal wrote, “A very warm welcome to @VP JD Vance, @SLOTUS Mrs. Usha Vance, & the US delegation to India! Received by Minister of Railways and I&B @AshwiniVaishnaw at the airport.” He added that the visit, spanning from April 21 to 24 in Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, would serve to deepen the India-US strategic partnership. One of the key highlights of Vance’s visit is a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Palam airport, symbolizing the warmth of the diplomatic relations between India and the US. Hoardings of Vice President Vance were also seen around the airport ahead of his arrival. As part of their official engagements, Vance, his family, and delegation will visit the iconic Akshardham Temple in Delhi. This will give the Vice President an opportunity to experience India’s rich cultural heritage during his stay. On the diplomatic front, Vice President Vance is scheduled to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The formal meeting between the two leaders is set for 6:30 pm today at the Prime Minister’s official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Discussions between Vance and Modi are expected to focus on strengthening economic, trade, and defense cooperation between the two nations. This visit is crucial as both countries seek to further solidify their relations, particularly in areas such as technology, defense, and energy. After the official meetings in Delhi, Vice President Vance and his family will travel to Jaipur, where they will visit key sites and engage with local officials. Vance will also make a trip to Agra on April 23, where he will visit the Taj Mahal, one of India’s most iconic landmarks. His visit will conclude on Thursday, April 24, with his departure from India at 6:40 am. This visit holds significant diplomatic weight, as it comes at a time when India and the United States are discussing several important issues, including the potential for a bilateral trade agreement. In his statement, Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that the visit would provide a platform for discussing all relevant issues between the two countries. “We have a comprehensive strategic global partnership, and when you have that level of partnership with any country, obviously, you will discuss all relevant issues,” Jaiswal said. He also highlighted ongoing discussions between the two nations on trade agreements, expressing optimism that the visit would give a further boost to their bilateral ties.
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