The two leaders exchanged gifts at a private dinner hosted by Joe and Jill Biden for Prime Minister Modi.
Posted on – Thu 22 Jun 23 at 2:30pm
Washington DC: U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House on Wednesday (local time). The two leaders exchanged gifts at a private dinner hosted by Joe and Jill Biden for Prime Minister Modi.
PM Modi gifted Jill Biden with a 7.5-carat lab-grown green diamond. An important aspect to note is that diamonds are “Made in India”. Diamonds reflect the chemical and optical properties of diamonds mined on Earth. It is also environmentally friendly because of the use of ecologically diverse resources such as solar and wind energy in its manufacture.
Meticulously carved using cutting-edge technology, this green diamond emits just 0.028 grams of carbon per carat. This diamond is certified by the gemological laboratory IGI and has received the hallmark of excellence through the 4Cs: cut, colour, carat and clarity. A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said the diamond was a beacon of responsible luxury, reflecting India’s 75 years of free and sustainable international relations.
PM Modi also presented a “papier-mache” box in which a green diamond was placed. Kashmir’s exquisite “pulp” is called kar-e-kalamdani, and involves the elaborate preparation of sakthsazi or pulp and naqqashi, in which skilled artisans draw elaborate designs.
A fusion of timeless tradition and craftsmanship, pulp exudes opulence, intricate patterns and elegant simplicity, making each piece of this craft a masterpiece. This box is the embodiment of India’s vibrant cultural tapestry.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden presented Modi with a handcrafted antique American bookcase from the early 20th century on Wednesday, according to the White House.
Joe Biden also presented Prime Minister Modi with a vintage American camera, as well as an archival facsimile of George Eastman’s first Kodak camera patent, and a hardcover book on American wildlife photography. Jill Biden gifted the Prime Minister with a signed first edition of the Collected Poems of Robert Frost. Prime Minister Modi took to his Twitter account to thank US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for hosting him at the White House. Prime Minister Modi noted that they had “excellent conversations” on several topics.
Prime Minister Modi tweeted: “I thank @POTUS @JoeBiden and @FLOTUS @DrBiden for hosting me at the White House today. We had a good conversation on several topics.” U.S. President Joe Biden Wednesday (local time) An intimate dinner was held to welcome Prime Minister Modi at the White House a day before the high-profile state dinner.
During his state visit to the US, Prime Minister Modi will attend a state dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on Thursday. He will also address a joint session of the U.S. Congress on the same day.
On June 23, US Vice President Kamala Harris and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will jointly host Prime Minister Modi at a luncheon. He will then meet with business leaders from 20 of the top US companies and is also expected to speak at a gathering of more than 1,500 expatriate and business leaders.
