Barack Obama recalls trip to India, personal friendship with Narendra Modi

Washington, May 19: In his meeting with India's new Ambassador to the US, President Barack Obama fondly recalled his trip to the country in January this year and his personal friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India's new envoy Arun Singh met Obama at the President's Oval office and formally presented his credentials as the Indian Ambassador to the US.

"Obama warmly welcomed Ambassador Singh back to Washington and wished him success in his responsibilities as India's next Ambassador to the United States," the Indian Embassy said.

"The President fondly recalled his visit to India in January and personal friendship with Prime Minister Modi," the Embassy said.

In his remarks, Singh conveyed warm greetings from the President and the Prime Minister of India to him and the First Lady.

Singh said he was committed to work towards making the India-US strategic partnership global in outlook, strategic in content and transformative for India's development, as decided by the leaders of the two countries in the summits held in September 2014 and January 2015.

A 1979-batch IFS officer, Singh has replaced S Jaishankar, who was appointed as Foreign Secretary on January 28 this year. Singh, who has been joint secretary in-charge of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan devision in the Ministry of External Affairs, has done postings in Japan, Israel among other countries.

He has also served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington for nearly five years.

PTI