Washington/New Delhi, Feb 14 (UNI) US President Donald Trump described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “great friend” and added that the two leaders have kept the relationship going during the four years Trump was out of office.

Answering questions during a media interaction ahead of their talks in the White House, President Trump said: “Prime Minister Modi is a great friend of mine; we’ve had a wonderful relationship, and we’ve kept the relationship during the four-year period (when he was out of office). And that was a very interesting period indeed. We’ve started off again, and we have some very big things to talk about.

“They (India) are going to be purchasing more of our oil and gas, we have more oil and gas than any other country in the world by far, they need it and we have it. And we are going to talk about trade, and great many things.

“It’s really an honour to see you, you’ve been a friend of mine for a long time, and congratulations on having done a great job,” he said, turning to PM Modi.

“He (Modi) is doing a great job in India, everyone talks about it, a really fantastic job, a great leader!” President Trump added.

“We have great unity, great friendship. He and I, and I think it’s only going to get closer. But it’s very important that we remain united as countries. We are friends and we are going to stay that way,” he said.

“This is a terrific man, we are going to make some great trade deals, for India and for the US,” Trump added.

In his remarks, PM Modi said he was delighted to see Trump back in the White House.

He also said that he is happy that in his third term as PM he has the privilege to be working with President Trump again. He also recalled the enthusiasm, warmth and trust between the two sides during President Trump’s first term.

PM Modi also recalled the Howdy Mody event in Houton and the Namaste Trump event in Ahmedabad and added that the resounding echo of those mega events can still be heard across India and the world.

“President Trump has a made great contribution towards strengthening bilateral ties and giving them new scope and taking them to unprecedented heights. And I firmly believe that in your second term we will work with even more speed,” PM Modi added.

UNI RN