Modi, Obama renew resolve to meet terrorism, climate change challenges

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Meeting for their third summit in a year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama on Monday renewed their resolve to together meet the twin challenges of terrorism and climate change.

"As terrorism threats grow, we have resolved to deepen our cooperation," Modi said at a joint briefing with Obama after an over-hour-long bilateral meeting that began with the two leaders sharing a hug.

"President and I share an uncompromising commitment on climate change without affecting our ability to meet the developmental aspirations of humanity," he said.

"This meeting and my visit demonstrates the extraordinary diversity of our relationship," Modi said telling Obama "we value your friendship and the vision and commitment between our countries".

"Our partnership is of great significance to the world," Modi said thanking Obama "for answering my call on the global partnership for sustainable development".

He also thanked Obama for supporting India's permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

Modi said he had seen "the driving force of our relationship", in Silicon Valley.

"Together we can do a lot for achieving the sustainable development goals," he said noting, "we have both set ambitious national agendas".

Earlier, during the bilateral meeting, Obama described their conversation as "an opportunity to define common principles".

"Leaders of the oldest and largest democracy meet! PM @narendramodi and @POTUS greet each other in New York," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted along with a picture of the two leaders embracing each other.

"An embrace at the entrance. PM @narendramodi meets President @BarackObama for their 5th meeting in one year," tweeted external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

"A partnership that will define the 21st century. PM @narendramodi & Pres @BarackObama hold delegation level talks," he said.

The meeting here came against the backdrop of the rockstar reception Modi received from the diaspora at San Jose reminiscent of the "Madison Square Garden moment" that preceded his first summit with Obama at the White House last year.

It also comes days after the first India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue in Washington that set the stage for Monday's summit with a series of accords including a declaration acknowledging the threat from Pakistan-based terror outfits.