Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit White House on September 29: US official

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet US President Barack Obama at the White House on September 29-30 during which the two leaders would discuss a wide range of bilateral and strategic issues including economic growth, a top Obama administration official said on Monday.

"President Obama looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to the White House on September 29-30," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said.

Obama looks forward to working with Modi to fulfill the promise of the US-India strategic partnership for the benefit of both our citizens and the world, he added.

The meeting will mark Modi's first visit to the US since his party swept to victory in general elections in May.

In 2005, the US State Department had revoked a visa that Modi had for travelling to the US in the wake of the 2002 riots in Gujarat.
He never applied for an American visa after the US move.

Following his historic win in the general elections this year, President Obama called Modi personally and invited him for a meeting in September.

"The two leaders will discuss a range of issues of mutual interest in order to expand and deepen the US-India strategic partnership," Earnest said.

"They will discuss ways to accelerate economic growth, bolster security cooperation, and collaborate in activities that bring long-term benefits to both countries and the world," he said.

"They will also focus on regional issues, including current developments in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, where India and the United States can work together with partners towards a positive outcome," he said