US President Donald Trump declared Monday that ties between Washington and New Delhi had “never been stronger" after holding his first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

An hour-long meeting of the delegates of the two countries was held in the cabinet office of the White House. The US side was represented by US Vice President Mike Pence, defence secretary James Mattis, secretary of state Rex Tillerson and National Security Adviser Lt Gen. H.R. McMaster. India’s NSA Ajit Doval, foreign secretary S. Jaishankar and the Indian ambassador to the US, Navtej Sarna are accompanying the prime minister.

The two leaders then issued a joint statement at the Rose Garden of the White House.

Here are the highlights from the Modi-Trump meeting at the White House (all timings, IST):

4.24 am: President Trump gives Modi a guided tour of President’s residence quarters in White House including the Lincoln bedroom. (@PMOIndia)

■ 4.15 am: PM Narendra Modi presents Trump a folio containing an original commemorative postal stamp that had been issued by India in 1965 to commemorate the death centenary of Abraham Lincoln. (@PMOIndia)

■ The prime minister also presented to the president a wooden chest with intricate inlay pattern that is a specialty of Hoshiarpur in Punjab.

■ For First Lady Melania Trump, Modi brought a hamper from India containing a traditional, handcrafted Himachali silver bracelet, tea and honey from Kangra valley, and hand-woven shawls from Jammu and Kashmir.

PM presented @POTUS a folio containing an original commemorative postal stamp that had been issued by India in 1965. pic.twitter.com/TMSk3cIBm3 — PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 26, 2017

■ 3.37 am: In just two weeks, you (Narendra Modi) will begin to implement largest tax overhaul in your country’s history, we are doing that also by the way: Trump (ANI)

3.33 am: My visit to the US and the talks that were held today are an important page in the history of India-US relationship, says Narendra Modi.

■ 3.31 am: Peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region is our focus: Modi. (PTI)

■ 3.29 am: Looking forward to exporting more US energy to India as your economy grows, including major long-term contract to purchase natural gas: Donald Trump (ANI)

View Full Image US President Donald Trump (right) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi walk towards a press conference in the Rose Garden at The White House on Monday. Photo: AFP

■ 3.27 am: Destroying terrorists and safe havens will be our aim, Narendra Modi says in joint statement.

■ 3.25 am: Pleased to learn about an Indian airline’s recent order of 100 new American planes,which will support thousands of American jobs: Trump (ANI)

■ 3.23 am: Narendra Modi invites Donald Trump and his family to visit India, says his meeting with the US President has been fruitful. (Hindustan Times)

3.22 am: Trump says India-US ties “never stronger," Modi says US is “primary partner" for India’s transformation. (AFP)

■ 3.21 am: Increasing instability Afghanistan is a cause of concern for us. India is committed to peace in Afghanistan, rebuilding that country is our top priority: Modi (ANI)

■ I laud your (Donald Trump) commitment towards strong India-USA bilateral relations: Modi (NDTV)

View Full Image PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump during their joint statement at the Rose Garden of the White House on Monday. Photo: Reuters

■ We agreed to work closely on boosting maritime trade and cooperation: Modi (NDTV)

■ 3.19 am: Trade, commerce and investment are important areas. Technology, innovation and knowledge economy are also areas we are looking at: Modi (ANI)

■ My visit to the US and the talks I held today is an important page in the history of India-US relationship. The talks have been very significant: Modi (PTI)

■ 3.18 am: I am proud to announce to media, American people and to Indian people that PM Modi and I are world leaders in social media: Trump (ANI)

■ 3.17 am: Eliminating terrorism is among the topmost priorities for both nations: PM Modi (ANI)

3.14 am: Our talks are a significant moment in the cooperation between our nations. They have been very important talks: PM Modi. (ANI)

PM Modi and President Trump in Rose Garden at the White House pic.twitter.com/VGZ4mX3tbH — ANI (@ANI_news) June 26, 2017

■ 3.11 am: I would like to thank Donald Trump for his kind words about India: Narendra Modi. (ANI)

■ 3.10 am: India has the fastest growing economy, and the US hopes to catch up soon: President Donald Trump. (ANI)

■ India and USA will always be together in friendship and respect: Trump.

■ Both countries are affected by terror, and we resolve that will destroy radical Islamic terror: Trump (ANI)

■ 3.09 am: India has a true friend in the White House. During my campaign I pledged if elected, India will have true friend in White House and that’s now exactly what you have—a true friend: Trump (ANI)

■ 3.07 am: PM Modi invited my daughter Ivanka to lead US delegation to the global entrepreneurship in India, and I believe she has accepted: Donald Trump (ANI)

■ 3.04 am: It’s a great honour to welcome to the leader of the world’s largest democracy. I have always had a deep admiration for your country and your people, the rich culture and traditions, President Trump tells Modi. (ANI)

3.02 am: PM Modi and President Trump issue a joint statement at the Rose Garden in the White House.

■ 2.07 am: “You are the world’s oldest democracy, while we are the world’s largest democracy," say Modi during delegation-level talks with the US. (ANI)

■ 2.06 am: “Thank you for ordering equipment from the US, no one makes military equipment like the US," says Trump during delegation-level talks with India. (ANI)

View Full Image Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads the Indian delegation during a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on Monday. Photo: Reuters

■ 2.02 am: “He said very nice things about me when he visited India in 2014," says PM Narendra Modi about Donald Trump. (The Times of India)

■ 2.01 am: Delegation-level talks between India and the US have started in the cabinet room of the White House. (ANI)

■ 1.57 am: “You’ve done a great job, economically. You’re doing well in so many ways, would like to congratulate you," Donald Trump tells Narendra Modi. (ANI)

The first handshake! President @realDonaldTrump & First Lady greet PM @narendramodi at the doorstep of the @WhiteHouse pic.twitter.com/mtdKrXvbId — Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) June 26, 2017

■ 1.50 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been doing a great job, says US President Donald Trump before their meeting. Economically, India is doing very well; it is an honour to receive “such a great prime minister", says Trump. (PTI)

■ 1.38 am: Will speak at length after meeting the US President, says Narendra Modi. (India Today)

■ 1.23 am: “President Donald Trump has welcomes me with immense warmth, I thank him for the welcome," says Narendra Modi. “This is a welcome for the people of India." (NDTV)

■ 1.21 am: The joint media briefing by Modi and Trump has started at the White House. (NDTV)

■ 1.16 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump outside the White House.

View Full Image US President Donald Trump (centre) greets PM Narendra Modi outside the White House as First Lady Melania Trump looks on. Photo: AP

■ 1.12 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the White House. His meeting with President Donald Trump will last 20 minutes, after which there will be delegation-level talks for one hour.

■ 12.25 am, Tuesday: Influential US lawmakers welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US and reiterated their commitment to strengthening the India-US ties.

“I welcome Indian PM Modi to the US. Strong US-India ties are in our long-term interest, but religious freedom must also remain a priority," US senator Marco Rubio tweeted. The Republican senator from Florida is a strong supporter of relationship between the two countries.

“Glad to see Prime Minister #Modi visiting Washington to maintain strong ties between the US & #India," Congressman Frank Pallone, a former chairman of Congressional caucus on India and Indian Americans, said.

Glad to see Prime Minister #Modi visiting Washington to maintain strong ties between the US & #India. — Rep. Frank Pallone (@FrankPallone) June 26, 2017

■ 11.24 pm: India welcomed sanctions against Syed Salahuddin, saying the move underlines quite strongly that both the India and the US face threat of terrorism. “India welcomes this notification. It underlines also quite strongly that both India and the US face threat of terrorism," said Gopal Baglay, spokesperson with ministry of external affairs.

■ 11.01 pm: US department of state designated Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as global terrorist, hours before Modi-Trump meeting. (read more)

■ 9.14 pm: US defence secretary James Mattis calls on PM Narendra Modi in Washington on Monday amid reports that the US will sell 22 Guardian drones to India to bolster its surveillance and intelligence gathering capabilities. (read more)

■ 9.46 pm: US secretary of state Rex Tillerson called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington on Monday and discussed ways to boost Indo-US strategic ties ahead of the Indian leader’s first meeting with US President Donald Trump. (read more)

■ White House’s officially announced the Modi-Trump meeting on Twitter. “Today @POTUS will welcome the Prime Minister of India, @narendramodi, to the White House," said the White House in a tweet.

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