India can be a major power: Obama

Indian PM invites the President to visit India at the earliest

• In their first summit, Modi, Obama hold substantive talks
• Both pledge to take bilateral relations to a new level
• India and US are natural partners and we will make it easier to do business in India. We have agreed to consult and cooperate on climate change. America is an integral part of our Look East, Link West policy– Narendra Modi
• We have decided to deepen existing ties with India. India can emerge as a major world power. We discussed trade and how we can continue to work with each other– Barack Obama

Washington: In their first summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama today pledged to push the bilateral relationship to "new levels", resolve issues blocking implementation of the civil nuclear deal and cooperate in counter terrorism.

During their hour-long discussions, which covered a broad range of issues including economic cooperation, trade and investment, Modi raised the demand for easier access to Indian services in the US. After the two countries reached an agreement on extending their defence cooperation for 10 more years, the Prime Minister invited American companies to participate in Indian defence manufacturing sector.

They held talks on ‘substantive’ bilateral, regional and international issues including defence, security, trade and situation in West Asia in view of threat by Islamic State militants.

Modi drove straight from Blair House to the famous West Wing of the White House to hold talks with Obama, first in restrictive format followed by delegation level. This is the second meeting between Modi and Obama, who hosted a private dinner for the Indian Prime Minister on his arrival from New York.

While Modi was accompanied by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Ambassador S Jaishankar and other senior officials of the MEA and PMO while Obama was assisted by Vice-President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, National Security Advisor Susan Rice and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal.

Modi and Obama also addressed a joint press conference in White House. The PM said, “India and US are natural partners and we will make it easier to do business in India. Both sides are deeply concerned about the Ebola crisis in Africa, India has made a financial commitment of $10 Million.”

“We have decided to deepen existing ties with India. India can emerge as major world power,” said Obama. He said that they discussed trade and “how we can continue to work with each other.” International situation, security issues and Middle East violence and extremism also figured in the talks, he said.

Modi stated that, “India and US are natural partners and we will make it easier to do business in India. We have agreed to consult and cooperate on climate change. America is an integral part of our Look East, Link West policy.”

On the trade facilitation agreement at WTO, which was derailed due to India’s stand, the Indian PM said, “We support trade facilitation but a solution that takes care of our food security must be found.”

Later, both the dignitaries paid homage to Martin Luther King Memorial, the leader of African-American Civil Rights Movement.