WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday coined a Hindi phrase — “chalein saath saath” — as the central premise of a defining 21st century partnership between their countries.

On Monday evening, when Mr Modi arrived at the White House for dinner and his first meeting with the US leader, President Obama greeted him in Gujarati, — “Kem Chho?” (how are you?) — in the prime minister’s mother tongue.

In a joint op-ed in The Washington Post on Tuesday, the two leaders wrote that the advent of a new government in India was “a natural opportunity to broaden and deepen our relationship” and to set a new agenda.

“That we both have satellites orbiting Mars tells its own story. The promise of a better tomorrow is not solely for Indians and Americans: It also beckons us to move forward together for a better world,” they wrote.

Some of the areas identified in the piece for increased cooperation included intelligence sharing on terrorism and regional concerns, including Afghanistan.

Intelligence-sharing among areas identified for enhanced cooperation

In their first summit at the Oval Office on Tuesday afternoon, the two leaders resolved to push the bilateral relationship to “new levels”, to fully implement the civil nuclear deal reached during the Bush administration and to cooperate in counter terrorism.

Also read: Obama plays host as Modi's White House visit begins

US and Indian officials told journalists that the hour-long meeting between the two leaders covered a lot of ground, from trade and investment to the current situation in South Asia.

The two countries also concluded an agreement to extend defence cooperation for ten more years and Mr Modi urged American companies to investment in the defence-manufacturing sector in India.

Mr Modi drove straight from Blair House to the West Wing of the White House to hold talks with Mr Obama, first in restrictive format and then with their aides.

President Obama called for deeper economic collaboration between their nations and Mr Modi identified common economic priorities.

“We already have the foundation of a strong partnership,” Mr Modi said, speaking Hindi as he did at the UN General Assembly. “We now have to ensure that we get the best out of it for our people and the world.”

On Monday evening, President Obama hosted Modi for a private working dinner at the White House, although the Indian PM, a devout Hindu, was fasting.

The US media noted that usually, a guest is only invited once to the White House during a visit but Mr Obama arranged two visits for his Indian guest, the dinner and then for formal talks on Tuesday.

From the Oval Office, President Obama and PM Modi travelled together to the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial on the National Mall, just a few blocks from the White House.

The warm welcomed Mr Modi received in Washington contrasts sharply with the US decision to deny him a visa when he was the chief minister of Gujarat 10 years ago. As chief minister, he was accused of instigating religious riots in his state in which more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed.

The US media noted that defence ties and trade in military equipment between the two countries had increased manifold during the last ten years but economic relations had not achieved their full potential because of India’s restrictive policies.

Published in Dawn, October 1st , 2014