US President Barack Obama on Monday said he was 'very much' looking forward to his visit to India in November as he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi and discussed the entire gamut of bilateral ties.
Obama and Dr Singh had their second substantive dialogue in two months on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit and are understood to have discussed about the global economic recovery and other issues of mutual concern.
Welcoming Dr Singh, Obama, who is scheduled to visit India in November, called him a "good friend" and said he continues to believe that the extraordinary leadership that the Indian Prime Minister has provided not just to his country, but to the world, has helped "us navigate through some very difficult times."
In his opening remarks, the US President said he was very pleased to have accepted an invitation to visit India.
"It is a trip that I'm very much looking forward to, and I know that the prime minister and his gracious wife will extend great hospitality to us. We are also just excited because of the tremendous cultural, as well as political and social and economic examples that India is providing the world and has in the past," he said.
"Thank you so much for your friendship, and we look forward to working with you in the months to come, leading up to the visit, so that we know that we're going to have a very productive stay when we are in India," Obama said.
Heaping praises on Dr Singh, Obama said at the G-20 Summit when the prime minister speaks people listen, particularly because of his deep knowledge of economic issues.
"As well as the fact that he understands that as India rises as a world power, not just a regional power, that it also has enormous responsibilities to work with the rest of the world community around issues of peace and prosperity," he said.
In his remarks, Dr Singh said it was the common endeavour of both leaders to give the Indo-US strategic partnership a new trust, new meaning and new content.
Dr Singh said he has every reason to believe that Obama ill find it a productive and exciting journey to "a country of India's diversity, of India's complexity."
He said the two countries are engaged in getting rid of chronic poverty, ignorance and disease, which still afflict millions and millions of people.
"And it's our common desire to work together to get rid of this scourge in our lifetime. And in that, the United States' support means a great deal to us. Your personal commitment to social justice is something we cherish," he said.
