Obama speaks to PM, invites him to US

United States President Barack Obama on Saturday spoke to Dr Manmohan Singh and the two leaders expressed their desire to work together to address common global challenges like terrorism and economic downturn. They also voiced willingness to tackle the issue of climate change, the White House said in a statement.

The two leaders "recalled their warm meeting" in London on April 2 on the margin of G-20 summit and "discussed their mutual desire to strengthen India-US relations and work together to address common global challenges such as the economic downturn, climate change and counter-terrorism," said the statement.

"President Obama also invited the Prime Minister to visit Washington," it added.

Obama called up Dr Singh, congratulating him on his re-election as prime minister and invited him to pay an early visit to Washington.

The American President said the electoral verdict in India was an endorsement of the policies pursued by Singh's previous government. Obama also congratulated India on successfully completing the largest democratic exercise the world has ever seen, calling it "a testament of the strength of India's democracy", the White House said.

Singh reiterated his invitation to Obama and his family to visit India, which the President said was a priority for him.