Looking forward to robust discussion with Modi next week: US

Washington, June 2: The US is looking forward to a "very robust" and "comprehensive" discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visits the country next week, the State Department has said, noting that ties with India remain "vital".

"We look forward to having a very robust, comprehensive discussion with the Prime Minister when he comes next week," State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters at his daily news conference here.

Modi is scheduled to arrive in Washington on June 6 on a three-day visit. The Prime Minister is scheduled to meet US President Barack Obama at the White House on June 7 and address a joint meeting of the US Congress on June 8.

"I won't get ahead of the prime minister's agenda while he's here, and we obviously look forward to the visit. The US-India relationship is very important, vital, particularly there in the region," he said in response to a question.

"In terms of whether they're bilateral or multilateral discussions on issues like counterterrorism, I mean, obviously we support other countries speaking amongst themselves, whether it's in a multilateral or a bilateral fashion about what is a very shared threat not just in the region but globally," Kirby said.

PTI