Discussion underway on PM Modi's potential US visit, confirms White House

Indian and American officials are holding discussions on a potential visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US, the White House has said.

"I know that there been some discussion about the potential of Prime Minister Modi visiting Washington and visiting the White House," the White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily news conference on Friday. At this point of time, there is no "update" on those discussions, he said.

A day earlier, the US India Business Council (USIBC) announced that Modi would address its annual gala in Washington on June 7. The Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan has invited Modi to address a joint meeting of the US Congress on June 8. Prime Minister's Office has not made any conformation of these meetings yet.

If it happens, this would be Modi's fourth visit to the US and third to Washington after he became the Prime Minister in May 2014. His earlier visits were in September 2014 (Washington Dc and New York), September 2015 (New York and Silicon Valley) and March-April 2016 (Washington DC).