Biden, Modi discuss rail deal, democracy as U.S. press sidelined

A security force personnel stands guard next to a hoarding decorated with flowers on a pavement ahead of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Amit Dave

U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke for nearly an hour on Friday about joint plans on technology, infrastructure and the importance of a healthy democracy, shortly after Biden arrived in New Delhi for a G20 summit over the weekend.

The two leaders pledged to cooperate on issues from democratic values and human rights to semiconductor supply chains and quantum computing, according to a joint statement.

“We’re frankly thrilled to be here. It’s great to see the Indians so appreciative that we’ve come,” Kurt Campbell, the senior U.S. official for Indo-Pacific policy, told reporters after the discussions.

The leaders were working on a “major breakthrough” related…