Obama wishes Modi happy diwali, reaffirms India-US ties

Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi to wish him a happy diwali, US President Barack Obama has reaffirmed the importance of the US-India partnership in addressing both regional and global issues.

A White House readout of the call on Tuesday said Obama spoke to Modi by phone "to review joint efforts on key areas of bilateral cooperation and to preview global issues ahead of the upcoming G-20 summit, East Asia Summit, and Paris Climate Conference."

"Noting that the conversation represented the first use of the new secure line between the two leaders, President Obama wished the Prime Minister a happy Diwali and reaffirmed the importance of the US-India partnership in addressing both regional and global issues."

"Both leaders shared their perspectives on developments in South Asia and discussed the progress they have made on shared economic and security priorities, including implementation of the Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region and addressing the global challenge of climate change," it added.

Earlier, in New Delhi, Modi tweeted after the call: "A short while ago @POTUS (President of the United States) called. We exchanged Diwali greetings. This was our first conversation through the newly-established hotline."

"President Obama & I look forward to meeting in Turkey during the G20 Summit," to be held on Nov 15-16, he said.

Modi said President Obama and he "discussed a wide range of other issues as well. It was good knowing how @WhiteHouse is marking Diwali."

The G20 summit is being held after the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals agenda at the UN and ahead of the climate change summit in Paris on Nov 30-Dec 1.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)