Barack Obama's India visit helped boost bilateral ties: White House

Washington, Feb 25: US President Barack Obama's visit to India provided an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relationship between the two countries and America is willing to work together with Indian government, the White House has said, a month after the historic trip.

"There is an opportunity for us to try to advance the interest of both our countries by working together and by coordinating our efforts. And the (US) President is certainly committed to that. In part because of the substantial economic benefits that could be enjoyed by the American people," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said yesterday.

"And that ultimately is his goal. I know that Prime Minister Modi has similar interests. I don't know of any recent conversations that they've had, but that continues to be a priority of both the president and his administration," Earnest said.

Earnest said Obama often discussed his view that the US need to have more "made in America" products that would be good for the US economy and for job creation.

"The President also does believe that, as Indian consumers have the opportunity to buy American goods, that could be good for the Indian economy, as well," he said.

"The President did have the opportunity to discuss some of these economic issues and our trade relationship with India in the context of his visit to India just last month. The president spent a lot of time with Prime Minister Modi. They spent a lot of time talking about some of these economic issues," Earnest said.

White House: The president spent a lot of time with Prime Minister Modi

There was a CEO summit in the context of those meetings, and that there were American and Indian business leaders that spent some time talking through some of these issues, he said.

"The President himself had the opportunity to sit down at a round table with a couple dozen of them and talk about some of the challenges that they face as they try to do more business together in a way that benefits the economies and job creation in both countries," he added.

Barack Obama arrived on a three-day visit to India on January 24. In his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two leaders decided to resume talks on bilateral investment treaty.

PTI