Barack Obama looking forward to his India visit in January discloses top US diplomat Nisha Biswal

US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, on Monday said that President Barack Obama was looking forward to attend the Republic Day function in New Delhi next year. "He is very much looking forward to it," Biswal told mediapersons here.

Last week, U.S. President Obama was invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Republic Day celebrations to be held next year in New Delhi which was accepted by the former. During his visit to India in January, Obama will meet Prime Minister Modi and other Indian officials to strengthen and expand US-India relationship.

The U.S President had earlier this month praised Prime Minister Modi by referring to him as a 'man of action' during a gala dinner hosted for the leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asia Summit (EAS) member countries in Nay Pyi Taw. India-U.S. bilateral relations have developed into a strategic partnership, based on increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues.