US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke for the first time over phone last night in what is described by Mr Modi a “warm” conversation. The leaders are said to have exchanged invites with each other too.
In a read out of the call, the White House said that President Trump “emphasized that the US considered India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world”.
The two leaders discussed several issues including trade, defence and terrorism. The US statement said that both leaders discussed security in the region of South and Central Asia and “resolved to stand shoulder to shoulder in the global fight against terrorism”
Prime Minister Modi is the fifth person that Donald Trump has called before calling Russia, China or Japan, four days after becoming the 45th President of the United States of America.
President Trump, whose “Buy American, Hire American” policy and plans to calm down on H-1B visas has caused some unease in the Indian IT Industry, has so far been positive about India.
During his gruelling election campaign, India was among a few countries with whom Trump had spoken of strengthening ties if elected to power.
PM Modi was among the first to congratulate him after his stunning November election win. In a tweet this morning, Narendra Modi said, “Had a warm conversation with President Donald Trump late last evening. President trump and I agreed to work closely in the coming days to further strengthen our bilateral ties. Have also invited President Trump to visit India.”
President trump has also invited Prime Minister Modi to visit America later this year.
More about H-1B visa rule
Two US Senators had announced that they will introduce a legislation, which, if passed, would give preference to foreigners studying in American universities, a move that will tighten the noose around the H-1B visa programme and could hurt Indian IT firms.
The bill will require US Citizens and Immigration Services to prioritise for the first time annual allocation of H-1B visas. It will ensure the “best and the brightest” students being educated in the US receive preference for an H-1B visa, a statement issued by the Senators said.
The preference system also gives a leg up to advanced degree holders, those being paid a high wage, and those with valuable skills, it said.
The bill among other things would crack down on outsourcing companies that import large numbers of H-1B and L-1 workers for temporary training purposes only to send the workers back to their home countries to do the same job.
