PM satisfied with US visit but issues remain

With a 'Thank You America', Prime Minister Narendra Modi wound up his five-day US visit describing it as "very successful and satisfactory" with observers here saying that he had succeeded in establishing a personal rapport with President Barack Obama and largely repairing bilateral ties.
A joint statement issued by the two leaders after two rounds of talks covered a wide range of issues including "broad strategic and global partnership" between the two countries, their shared values and their desire to strengthen and deepen cooperation.
The 64-year-old Indian leader made a strong impression with his energy and declared commitment to transform India in which he sought US cooperation and investments, including in railways and defence manufacturing.

Urging top US corporates to establish and expand their base in India before "it is too late", Modi told the US-India Business Council (USIBC) before emplaning for Delhi last night that he would implement in the next 6 months all the things necessary for ease of business in India.
USIBC told him that it had identified upwards of USD 41 billion slated for investment by its members in India within the next 3 years.
However, American media was of the view that thorny issues such as Indian taxation laws, trade and civilian nuclear energy cooperation, that had divided the two countries in the recent years, remained to be resolved.

There were promises on issues such as the decision to establish an inter-agency contact group to sort out outstanding liability and technical issues to fast-track implementation of the landmark 2005 civil nuclear deal signed by Modi's predecessor Manmohan Singh.
The deal has remained stalled over the liability of those who supply nuclear reactors with Americans complaining that it was heavily weighed against them.