New Delhi
26 June 2009
United States National Security Adviser General James Jones called on Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh here Friday and conveyed US President Barack Obama's
invitation to visit the White House later this year.
The Obama -- Singh meeting is expected to take place when the Prime Minister visits the
US for the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh on September 24 and 25.
"Gen Jones conveyed President Obama's invitation to Prime Minister Singh to visit the
White House this fall," the US Embassy said in a press release issued towards the end
of Gen Jones' two-day visit to India.
"The upcoming visit will be an opportunity to continue the discussion that the two
leaders held during the G-20 meeting in London, focussing on the global economic
situation, trade, energy and climate change, and regional security issues," the press
release read.
The US official also called on Minister of Defence AK Antony, besides holding talks with
National Security Adviser MK Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon.
Both sides discussed a range of bilateral, regional and global issues such as the US
Government's strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan and terrorism. They also talked
about energy, economic and trade links, defence ties, and the post-election situation in
Iran.
Gen Jones said President Obama viewed the US -- India relationship to be of foremost
importance in advancing common interests.
"In addition to broadening our partnership on a variety of global and bilateral issues, we
will work together closely on regional security matters. This is an area in which India is
playing an important role," he said.
"Gen Jones outlined President Obama's desire to move quickly in the months ahead to
make tangible progress on a range of issues that affect our nations' futures," the US
Embassy elaborated.
The visit of Gen Jones, who arrived here after a tour of Afghanistan and Pakistan, came
ahead of an official visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to India in July.
Prime Minister Singh and Obama will travel to Italy next month for the G-8 Summit and G-
8 Outreach Summit. They last met on April 2 on the margins of the G-20 London Summit.
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