Modi says India willing to build partnership of peace, stability with U.S.

NEW DELHI, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday told visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel that India is willing to work with the United States to "build a partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the world".

Modi welcomed the continued U.S. engagement with the new government, saying he was looking forward to his summit-level talks with U.S. President Barrack Obama during his visit to the United States in late September.

It would be not just as occasion to think in terms of what the two countries can do for each other, but also an opportunity to see how the United States and India can build "a partnership for peace, stability and prosperity" in the world, the Prime Minister' s Office officials quoted Modi saying during the meeting.

The prime minister also expressed his desire to see further progress in the area of defense manufacturing, technology transfer, exercises and higher studies in the field with the United States.

Hagel arrived here Thursday evening on a three-day official visit, his first ever to India.

The other topics covered in the discussion included Afghanistan, the threat of terrorism in the Middle East and security issues in the areas comprised by the Indian and Pacific Oceans, said a communique from Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby to the press.

Earlier in the day, Hagel also met Indian Defense Minister Arun Jaitley and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Local media said the United States is offering to co-produce and co-develop high tech Javelin infra red guided anti-tank missiles with India, besides selling anti-submarine choppers, military transport planes and ultralight howitzer cannons.