Obama speaks to Modi, first call via Indo-US hotline

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have made the first use of the secure hotline set up between Washington and New Delhi as they reviewed progress on key areas of cooperation and discussed global issues ahead of the upcoming G-20 summit.

"President Obama spoke today by phone with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to review joint efforts on key areas of bilateral cooperation and to preview global issues ahead of the upcoming G-20 summit, East Asia Summit, and Paris Climate Conference," the White House said yesterday.

Noting that the conversation represented the first use of the new hotline line between the two leaders, Obama reaffirmed the importance of the US-India partnership in addressing both regional and global issues, it said.

"Both leaders shared their perspectives on developments in South Asia and discussed the progress they have made on shared economic and security priorities, including implementation of the Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region and addressing the global challenge of climate change," the White House said.

The secure line between the two countries was agreed to in January, when Obama became the first sitting US president to visit India twice.

After his visit to the United Kingdom beginning on November 12, Modi will travel to Turkey to attend the G20 Summit to be held on November 15-16.

The Summit is being held at a critical juncture after the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals agenda at the United Nations and ahead of the climate change Summit in Paris.