(MENAFN- The Peninsula) US President Barack Obama and new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed yesterday to expand and deepen their countries' strategic partnership and make it a model for the rest of the world.
In a joint "vision statement" issued after their first meeting at a White House dinner, the two leaders said they would work together "not just for the benefit of both our nations, but for the benefit of the world."
They said their countries would cooperate on security and to fight terrorism and would back a "rules based" global order in which India assumes greater multilateral responsibility, including a reformed UN Security Council.
They also vowed to work together against the threat posed by climate change and to cooperate to address the consequences of unchecked pollution.
"We have a vision that the United States and India will have a transformative relationship as trusted partners in the 21st century. Our partnership will be a model for the rest of the world," they said in their statement said.
The two leaders also said their countries would work to ensure that economic growth brought better livelihoods for all people and stressed the importance of open markets and fair and transparent practices to allow trade to flourish.
Washington has been keen to expand business and security ties with India, which it sees as a key counterbalance to an increasingly assertive China in Asia. Obama has backed New Delhi's bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Narendra Modi said he had a "wonderful meeting" with US President Barack Obama at the White House and both share a vision for partnership in which both countries would work together for the benefit of the entire humankind.
In a Facebook post after his first meeting with Obama yesterday, the first time they were meeting, Modi said: "With President Barack Obama. We had a wonderful meeting and talked about a wide range of issues. Both President Obama and I share a vision for a partnership in which our nations work together for the benefit of the entire humankind."
Earlier, Modi was greeted at the doorstep of the White House by Obama with "Kem Chho" - the Gujarati equivalent of "Hello, how are you".
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was also greeted by Obama and other officials, including US Secretary of State John Kerry. Both smiled and laughed at a witty remark by the Indian minister.
The information was tweeted by external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.
Knowing President Barack Obama's admiration for Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted him a copy of Gita by the Mahatma and some memorabilia associated with the American civil rights leader.
Modi also presented Obama with a special reprint of Gandhi's interpretation of the Gita.
The US president keeps a statue of the Indian freedom leader in his office.
Keeping Obama's great regard for Martin Luther King Jr in mind, Modi brought an All India Radio recording of King's speech in India in 1958. There is also a framed photograph of King at Rajghat besides a small video clip from his 1959 visit to India.
These are Modi's personal gifts to Obama, Akbaruddin said.
He has also brought some official gifts that would be given at the official bilateral meeting.
The White House released a vision statement for the US-India Strategic Partnership: "Chalein saath saath: Forward together we go". Modi, who is on a fast for the Hindu festival of Navratri, sipped warm water at the dinner hosted in his honour by Obama ahead of their formal bilateral summit.
First Lady Michelle Obama gave the working meal a miss as the two delegations dined on halibut, avocados and basmati rice served with Shafer Chardonnay at the Blue Room.
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