Looking forward to build closer ties with 'vital partner' India, says US

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here, the United States has expressed its desire to build stronger with its 'vital partner' India, based on security and economic stability.

"The breadth of the U.S.-Indian relationship is wide. As we mentioned earlier, it addresses security; it's got a strong economic component. We're looking to build closer relationships across the board with India, because we see it as a vital partner in the region," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mark Toner said in a press briefing.

Talking about the Prime Minister's visit specifically, he added that US Secretary of State John Kerry will be involved with the visit and that there will be meetings at the State Department.

Asserting that the US is looking forward to the visit, Toner said that the US-Indian relationship is of incredible significance, not only to the region but to the world. We have a broad bilateral and multilateral relationship with India and look forward to engaging on all those issues," he added.

Prime Minister Modi will embark on a five nation tour that kicks off next week, where he will first head to Afghanistan on June 4 and from there to Qatar on June 5 for a bilateral visit.

Then the Prime Minister will fly to Switzerland on June 6 and then to the United States for a bilateral visit on June 7 and June 8. He will be addressing a joint session of the US Congress on June 8.

According to reports, he is then expected to visit Mexico before returning home on June 10. He will be the fifth Indian Prime Minister to address a joint meeting of Congress, and the first since 2005.

The first-ever Indian premier to make such a speech was Rajiv Gandhi in 1985, followed by P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1994 and Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2000.

Prime Minister Modi will be the fifth, speaking 11 years after his predecessor, Congress leader Manmohan Singh.

Every full-term prime minister since 1984 has addressed a joint meeting of the House and Senate.