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We 'strongly support' India's NSG bid: US President Obama

WION
Vientiane, Vientiane Prefecture, LaosUpdated: Sep 08, 2016, 12:42 PM IST
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World leaders share bonhomie Photograph:(Reuters)
The United States “strongly supports” India’s inclusion in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), US President Barack Obama told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday while they discussed strategic partnership, civil nuclear cooperation and climate change in a meeting on the sidelines of the East Asia summit in Laos.
The US has been playing a lead role in supporting India's bid for the 48-member elite group membership.

"President Obama praised Prime Minister Modi's initiatives to reform the Indian economy. In particular, the US President expressed confidence that the passage of GST will unleash significant economic activity," sources told PTI.

This could be the last meeting between Modi and Obama as leaders of the two countries with Obama's second term as US president coming to an end in January next year.

Obama said that the “US would continue to be a strong partner of India”.

The two leaders also reviewed progress on Indo-US collaboration in nuclear energy, solar energy and innovation, the sources said.

White House officials said that "President Obama thanked Prime Minister Modi for his cooperation on a broad range of global and bilateral issues and commended Prime Minister Modi's leadership in addressing the urgent threats posed by climate change."

The Indian Prime Minister too praised President Obama for his contribution to the relationship and the growing trust between the two countries.

He also invited the US president to visit India after demitting office. Obama replied saying he and his wife Michelle were yet to see the Taj Mahal and would thus be glad to visit India again.

(WION with inputs from agencies)