US President Barack Obama on Friday formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Washington in September saying he wants to "work closely with Prime Minister to make India-US relations a defining partnership for the 21st century".
The US deputy secretary of state William Burns called on Modi and delivered Obama's letter.
"Prime Minister thanked President Obama for the invitation and looked forward to a result-oriented visit with concrete outcomes that imparts new momentum and energy to India-US strategic partnership," a Press Information Bureau release said.
Since Modi's spectacular win in the 2014 general elections, the US has tried — through tweets, statements and a phone call from Obama to the PM-designate — to expunge its anti-Modi record.
Modi was denied a diplomatic official visa in 2005 over his alleged failure to stop the 2002 riots as the chief minister of Gujarat. The US had also cancelled his tourist visa.
Stung, the chief minister never applied for a visa again.
"Prime Minister stated that the relationship between the world's oldest and largest democracies should not only be for the benefit of the two countries, but should emerge as a powerful force of good for peace, stability and prosperity in the world," Modi was quoted as saying in the release.
Modi will also attend the United Nation General Assembly session in the US.
National security adviser Ajit Doval, foreign secretary Sujatha Singh, the US charge d'affaires Kathleen Stephens, and the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs Nisha Biswal were also present during Modi's meeting with Burns.
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