World leaders look forward to work with Modi-led government

United States President Barack Obama on Monday congratulated Narendra Modi on being sworn-in as India's 15th prime minister and said he looks forward to working with the new leader to strengthen the strategic partnership.

“President Obama congratulates Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and the new Indian government on their swearing-in today,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said.

"As the President and prime minister agreed in their call after the election, as the world's two largest democracies, India and the United States share a deep bond and commitment to promoting economic opportunity, freedom, and security for our people and around the world," he said.

"We look forward to working closely together with the new government to continue to strengthen and expand the US-India strategic partnership for years to come," Carney said in a statement.

Obama had congratulated Modi for his electoral victory during a telephone call on the day poll results showed a landslide electoral win for the BJP.

During the brief maiden telephonic conversation, Obama had extended an invitation to the BJP leader to visit the US to further strengthen bilateral ties.

The US, which has denied him visa since 2005 in the wake the 2002 Gujarat riots, said Modi would be eligible for an A-1 visa as the Head of Government.

Modi, 63, was on Monday sworn-in as prime minister at the head of a 45-member coalition government after the elections threw the first government with absolute majority in 30 years.

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Premier Li Keqiang said China views India as a "natural cooperative partner" and it is ready to work with the new Narendra Modi-led government to take their strategic cooperative partnership to a "new level".

Congratulating Modi on being sworn in as India's 15th prime minister, the Chinese Premier said, "China and India are important neighbours to each other and the top 2 emerging markets in the world. China-India relations have moved beyond the bilateral scope and taken on global and strategic significance."

"By working together for peaceful, cooperative and common development, China and India will not only bring benefits to their own people but also contribute to peace, stability and prosperity of Asia and beyond. China stands ready to work with India to bring China-India strategic cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity to a new level," he was quoted as saying by an official statement.

The statement acknowledged that in the new century, the two countries have established a strategic cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity and found a way to actively expand cooperation while "properly handling disagreements".

"China has all along regarded India as natural cooperative partner whose development brings opportunities to China, and has viewed China-India relations as one of its diplomatic priorities," Li said.

“Both China and India are now facing the historical mission of deepening reform, growing the economy and improving people's livelihood. We also share the goal of seeking domestic development and a peaceful external environment,” he said.

Modi made four visits to China as the chief minister of Gujarat, where most of China's USD 900 million investments in India have been made.