US Vice President JD Vance praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "gracious and kind" after the two leaders met in Paris following the AI Action Summit. Modi also had a warm interaction with Vance's family, joining them in celebrating the birthday of his son, Vivek.
"Prime Minister Modi was gracious and kind, and our kids really enjoyed the gifts. I’m grateful to him for the wonderful conversation," Vance shared on X. His remarks followed Modi’s own post, where the Indian leader described the meeting as delightful and shared photos with Vance, his wife Usha Vance, and their children.
"Had a wonderful meeting with US @VP @JDVance and his family. We had a great conversation on various subjects. Delighted to join them in celebrating the joyous birthday of their son, Vivek!" Modi wrote on X.
Official Statement on Modi-Vance Talks
Following their meeting, the US Vice President's office released a statement highlighting discussions on key areas of cooperation, including energy. The statement noted that the leaders, along with Usha Vance, shared coffee and explored ways for the US to assist India in diversifying its energy sources through investments in clean and reliable nuclear technology.
"Prime Minister Modi graciously shared gifts with the Vance children and wished the Vice President's son, Vivek, a happy birthday," the statement added.
This meeting marked Modi’s first interaction with a member of the newly-elected Donald Trump administration ahead of his two-day visit to the US. Modi also congratulated Vance on the Republican Party’s electoral victory, exchanging greetings at the Élysée Palace.
Vance Endorses Modi’s AI Perspective
Earlier in the day, Vance addressed the AI Action Summit shortly after Modi’s speech. Aligning with Modi’s stance on AI’s role in the workforce, Vance acknowledged that artificial intelligence would enhance productivity rather than replace human jobs entirely.
PM Modi emphasized the importance of adapting to AI-driven changes, stating, "We need to invest in skilling and re-skilling our people for an AI-driven future. History shows that work does not disappear because of technology."
Echoing this sentiment, Vance added, "I appreciate PM Modi’s point that humans cannot be replaced by AI," reinforcing the need for a balanced approach to technological advancement.