Obama, Modi to meet in Washington in June: White House

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama will meet at the White House next month the White House said in a statement issued on Friday.

Obama and Modi will discuss a host of issues, including economic growth, technology, clean energy, climate change and, of course, terrorism during the meeting on 7 June, the White House stated.

"The visit will highlight the deepening of the US-India relationship in key areas," the statement said. The two countries' partnership is seen as critical in Washington, which is seeking to counterbalance China's increasing power.

US House Speaker Paul Ryan has also invited Modi to address a joint meeting of Congress during his Washington visit, an opportunity extended to few foreign leaders.

"The US Congress has been a source of strength for the India-US strategic partnership and the India Congressional Caucus is the largest such group in the US Congress," the White House release stated.

"During the visit, the prime minster will have interaction with CEOs of major US companies. Realisation of the full potential of our economic partnership has been a key priority for both the countries and the progress achieved in this regard is reflected in the increased investment flows," it added.

This will be Modi' fourth visit to the US in two years - on the invitation of US President Barack Obama.

Obama, who has adopted a "pivot to Asia" strategy, has been constantly engaging India in his Asia strategy – both for economic growth and countering an assertive China vis-à-vis nations of East and Southeast Asia.

Modi's engagements on the visit also include an address at a US-India Business Council event, where he will be joined by Amazon's Jeff Bezos.

In a statement issued in New Delhi, the external affairs ministry said the bilateral strategic partnership has ''developed strongly, particularly during the last two years under the leadership'' of Modi and Obama.

The main objective of Modi's visit will be to ''consolidate the progress made in diverse areas such as economy, energy, environment, defence and security, and to intensify cooperation for the future'', it added.

Referring to Modi's upcoming meetings with CEOs of major US companies, the statement said that the realisation of the full potential of the economic partnership is a key priority for both countries and progress in this field is reflected in the increased investment flows.