Barack Obama again backs India's NSG bid

NEW DELHI: In what was probably their last meeting during his presidency , the US President Barack Obama assured PM Narendra Modi on Thursday that he would continue to be a strong partner of India and help in any way possible. Obama also reiterated US' support for India's NSG membership bid, according to officials of both countries.

However, India clarified that it has yet to decide on ratifying the Paris agreement on climate change after reports emerged quoting the White House as saying that the Indian PM had pledged to formally join the Paris climate change agreement this year -a potentially major step towards the pact coming into force.

A White House official, giving details of the meeting between Modi and Obama, said, "Reaffirming the strong bonds of friendship between the US and India, the President underscored that the US strongly supports India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)."

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Laos and reviewed the immediate priorities in the strategic partner ship. This was said to be their eighth bilateral meeting.

The White House official said Obama thanked Modi for his cooperation on a broad range of global and bi lateral issues and commended his leadership in addressing the urgent threats posed by climate change.

"The leaders noted our joint commitment, fulfilled by the US in advance of the G20 Leaders' Summit, to join the Paris Agreement this year as well as our resolve to adopt an ambitious HFC amendment to the Montreal Protocol this year," the official added. India though was quick to clarify that the government had made no decision as yet on ratifying the Paris Agreement. "Domestic processes in this regard are still underway . A decision will be taken only when they are completed," said MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

Obama praised Modi's initiatives to reform the Indian economy . Modi invited Obama to visit India after he demits office. As an aside, sources said, Obama added that Michelle and him were yet to see the Taj Mahal.