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Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and an Exchange With Reporters in Osaka, Japan

June 28, 2019

Prime Minister Modi. Mr. President, at the beginning of my second term, I'm really very happy to have this opportunity to meet you. I would also like to express my gratitude after the huge democracy in India. The men—the people of India gave us this huge victory—this landslide victory.

The people of India have reposed—have given me a second mandate. And immediately afterwards, after the victory in the elections, you called me over the telephone and congratulated me. And 2 days ago, Secretary of State Pompeo carried a letter from you, which was a very warm letter. Also, it expressed the kind of sentiments that you have towards India, your love towards India. You expressed those issues. Once again, Mr. President, let me thank you.

Secretary Pompeo visited India 2 days ago. We had an opportunity to have discussions on many issues. Also, he carried, as I said a short while ago, your warm message. Given that we have a time limitation, in this meeting, we would like to discuss four issues: Iran, 5G, bilateral relations, and defense relations.

The India-U.S. relations—we have a vision, which is far sighted and positive. And India is committed to taking forward these relations within this far-sighted and positive vision. We will continuously strive to do so.

Once again, let me thank you, Mr. President, for having taken out time to meet me. Thank you.

President Trump. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister. And we've become great friends, and our countries have never been closer. I can say that with surety. And we work together in many ways, including military. But we certainly work together on trade, and we'll be discussing trade today.

You did indeed have a landslide election. That was a great election. Seventy-two percent, as I understand it. [Laughter] And that, in the United States, would be called a very big victory. And you deserve it. You've done a great job pulling everybody together. You had many factions.

I remember when you first took over, we were talking, and you had many factions, and they were fighting with each other. And now they all get along. And you just—you've really brought it together, and I think it's a fantastic tribute to you and your abilities.

Thank you very much for the relationship and the friendship. And I think we're going to have a—some very big things to announce. A very big trade deal. We're doing some very big things with India in terms of trade, in terms of manufacturing, in terms of—we will be discussing 5G. It's a big subject nowadays and other things having to do with like manner.

So this has been a lot of fun being with you. We've had some good talks already. And again, I think you'll be hearing some very productive elements come out.

We had a joint meeting with—as you know, as the press was there, we had a very successful meeting with Prime Minister Abe. And we also are going to be announcing some very big trade transactions, some very big trade deals. They—they're moving many plants—auto plants—into the United States. And they announced some more this morning, and we're very happy about that. So, again, I want to thank you, and I want to congratulate you. And I look forward to talking. Thank you very much.

Prime Minister Modi. Thank you. Thank you.

India-U.S. Trade Relations

Q. Mr. President, what is the most important thing for India to do on trade?

President Trump. I think we just—we'll continue to get along with India. India is doing very well as a country. We're doing very well as country.

We have picked up, as you know, many trillions of dollars in worth and value at the United States. And I think we're considered, right now—we'll be discussing it with Prime Minister Modi—the hottest; we're the hottest country in the world, the United States, right now. And everybody wants a part of it.

A big factor and a big relationship is that of India, and so we're going to be discussing many things. All very positive. I think you will see and you will hear it's all very positive. The relationship with India, as I said, has, I don't believe, ever been better than it is right now.

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Q. What's your message on Huawei, sir?

President Trump. Well, it's something we're going to be talking about. We understand the subject very well. We actually sell Huawei many of its parts. A lot of people don't know that, but the United States sells. We have great companies that are the leaders of a lot of what Huawei does, and we sell them a lot. So we're going to be discussing that and also how India fits in. We'll be discussing Huawei.

Iran

Q. Mr. President, what will be your message on Iran?

President Trump. On who?

Q. On Iran.

President Trump. Well, it's the same message I've been telling you for the last 3 days. It's—we have a lot of time. There's no rush. They can take their time. There's absolutely no time pressure. I think that in the end, hopefully, it's going to work out. If it does, great. And if doesn't, you'll be hearing about it.

Thank you.

Q. Iran's saying you won't negotiate.

Q. How long will you delay the census for, Mr. President? How long will you delay the census for, until we get the citizenship question on?

President Trump. Thank you very much, everybody.

NOTE: The President spoke at approximately 9:45 a.m. at the International Exhibition Center. In his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan. Prime Minister Modi spoke in Hindi, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter.

Donald J. Trump, Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and an Exchange With Reporters in Osaka, Japan Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/333670

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