The US has dismissed Chinese resentment over India and America expressing concern on the South China Sea dispute during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington, and described New Delhi as an important partner.

"I think our position hasn't changed on this issue. You are familiar with it, but we certainly work with countries in the region to address maritime issues," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said.

"And certainly, India is an important partner, and it's only natural that this was a topic of discussion but also a topic of output from our meetings when the prime minister was here just a few weeks ago," she told reporters yesterday.

A joint statement issued after Modi's meeting with US President Barack Obama on September 30 for the first time made a direct reference to the South China Sea dispute.