PM Modi invites Obama as chief guest on Republic Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited U.S. President Barack Obama to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations next year.

"This Republic Day, we hope to have a friend over...invited President Obama to be the 1st US President to grace the occasion as Chief Guest," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

Obama had earlier this month praised Prime Minister Modi by referring to him as a 'man of action'. Obama used the phrase during a gala dinner hosted for the leaders from with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asia Summit (EAS) member countries in Nay Pyi Taw.

Obama had earlier on September 29 hosted a private dinner for Prime Minister Modi at the White House during the latter's U.S. visit.

India-U.S. bilateral relations have developed into a global strategic partnership, based on increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues.

Regular exchange of high-level political visits coupled with wide ranging dialogue architecture has enabled sustained momentum to bilateral cooperation and helped establish a long-term framework for India-U.S. global strategic partnership.

The bilateral cooperation is now broad-based and multi-sectoral, covering trade and investment, defence and security, education, science and technology, cyber security, high technology, civil nuclear energy, space technology and applications, clean energy, environment, agriculture and health.