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Obama formally invites PM Modi to Washington
Ashok Tuteja
Tribune News Service

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns during their meeting in New Delhi on Friday. AFP

PM thanks Obama Modi thanked President Obama for the invitation and said he was looking forward to a result-oriented visit with concrete outcomes The PM felt re-energising the India-US partnership would send an important message to the region and beyond The PM reiterated his desire to strengthen relations with all neighbours

New Delhi, July 11
US President Barack Obama today extended a formal invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Washington in late September for a summit between the two leaders. Visiting US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns met Modi here and delivered a letter to him from the American President.

In the letter, Obama also expressed his keen desire to work closely with the Indian leader to make the India-US relations a defining partnership of the 21st century.

According to the PMO, Modi thanked President Obama for the invitation and said he looked forward to a result-oriented visit with concrete outcomes that imparted new momentum and energy to the India-US strategic partnership.

The PM was of the view that re-energising the partnership between India and the US would send an important message to the region and beyond. Articulating his vision for the India-US relations, he stated that the relationship between the world’s oldest and the largest democracies should not only be for the benefit of the two countries, but should emerge as a powerful force of good for peace, stability and prosperity in the world.

Burns conveyed President Obama’s desire to strengthen economic relations, including in next-generation technologies and manufacturing sector; deepen security cooperation, including in maritime security, counter-terrorism and intelligence exchange; expand consultation and coordination on Afghanistan; and, work more broadly for security and prosperity in Asia. The PM reiterated his desire to strengthen relations with all neighbours.

Modi recalled President Obama’s telephone call soon after the election and expressed his appreciation for his detailed and thoughtful letter. He saw immense opportunities for deepening cooperation across the full spectrum of the relationship and laid special emphasis on involving youth in creating new avenues of promoting cooperation between our two countries.

MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said Burn’s visit was aimed at chalking out a roadmap for the strategic dialogue between India and the US here on July 31 and the PM’s visit to Washington.