Modi, Obama decide to 'refine' Indo-US strategic cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama on Monday decided to "further refine" the Indo-US strategic partnership while pushing ahead with cooperation in the areas of security, counter-terrorism, defence, economy and climate change.

During the talks, Modi underlined the need for concrete outcomes at the upcoming global conference on climate change in Paris even as Obama said India's leadership at the meet will set the tone for decades to come.

"We discussed how we can further refine our strategic vision," said Obama after the hour-long talks, third between the two leaders in over a year.

He said the two leaders discussed how to move forward in various areas like security, economy, trade and investment as also cooperation to defence procurement.

“On all these issues, the prime minister has been an outstanding partner," Obama said.

Appreciating the US President's "friendship, vision and commitment for the relationship", Modi said the bilateral partnership addresses a broad range of strategic and security concerns -- counter terrorism, cyber security, training.

"Our defence cooperation, including defence trade and training is expanding. As existing terrorism threats grow and new ones emerge, we have resolved to further deepen cooperation on counter-terrorism and radicalism," the prime minister said.