JOIN USThe United States is keen to work with India to help international community reach a landmark agreement to deal with climate change when the United Nations will hold a conference on the issue in Paris next December, American Secretary of State John Kerry said here on Monday.
Kerry on Monday confirmed that climate change would figure prominently on the agenda of US President Barack Obama’s discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on January 24.
“We are committed to working with India to reach a landmark climate change agreement in Paris at the end of this year and I know this will be a topic of the President’s conversation with the prime minister,” the US Secretary of State told journalists at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.
Kerry was in Gandhinagar to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit. He called on Modi on Sunday on the sideline of the event and discussed possible outcomes of US president’s visit to New Delhi from January 24 to 26.
Obama will meet Modi in New Delhi on January 25 and attend the Republic Day ceremony as the chief guest the next day.
Kerry on Monday lauded Modi’s policies and his Government’s commitment to contribute to global campaign to deal with climate change.
“Having already met Prime Minister Modi now three times during his tenure, I know that he not only understands, but is also committed to policies which will deal with climate change and that is why he has already announced his ambitious plans to scale up India’s renewable power programmes,” US Secretary of State told the journalists.
He said the US had the ability to help India in research and development activities on clean energy. “We want to support the prime minister’s vision of supplying electricity 24X7 to the poorest communities of India,” said Kerry.
An agreement for expanding bilateral cooperation on solar energy is understood to be among the possible outcomes of Obama’s meeting with Modi in New Delhi.