Narendra Modi, Barack Obama write joint editorial for US newspaper

Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama have written a joint editorial for a leading American newspaper that will be published tomorrow, announced Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin on Monday, after the two leaders met over dinner at the White House.

Briefing reporters about the 90-minute long dinner diplomacy between Modi and Obama, Akbaruddin said: "This is the first time a US President and Indian leader will be writing a joint editorial.”

After using technology successfully in their respective election campaigns, Modi and Obama have for the first time interacted digitally to come out with a joint editorial.

Officials on both sides have been very secretive about the joint op-ed and have not even disclosed the name of the newspaper that will publish it.

Asked how the two leaders collaborated to write the joint editorial, Akbaruddin said both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Obama are great votaries of digital diplomacy and therefore, it is very easy to digitally interact and through electronic means and it (editorial) was only finalised just today after Prime Minister's arrival here.

Asked if both the leaders were so active digitally why there was no exchange between the two on cyber space, he said "wait and watch".

He also said that this was for the first time that an Indian leader has ventured on the path of a joint editorial.

The Prime Minister wrote an editorial in Wall Street Journal before he headed to the US for his first visit since taking power in May.

In the op-ed, Modi asserted that there is a “high tide of hope for change” in India.

He had also said that India would pursue its dreams in partnership with its international friends.