Feb 04, Kathmandu- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the White House next week at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, Reuters reported, citing a White House official.

The invitation comes days after a recent phone call between the two leaders on January 27. In the call, both leaders emphasized their commitment to advancing the US-India strategic partnership and the Indo-Pacific Quad partnership.

In the January 27 call, Trump talked about immigration, while India emphasized the importance of buying more US-made security equipment and bilateral trade ties.

“They also discussed a range of regional issues, including security in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Europe,” the White House said in a statement. “The President stressed the importance of India increasing its purchases of American-made security equipment and moving towards a fair bilateral trade relationship.”

The leaders also discussed Prime Minister Modi’s plans for a White House visit and the Indo-Pacific Quad partnership. India is hosting Quad leaders for the first time this year.

The two countries have a particularly important trade relationship. Bilateral trade is expected to exceed $118 billion in 2023-24, and India has a trade surplus of $32 billion.

India, a strategic partner of the United States in its efforts to counter China, is keen to increase trade ties with the United States and make it easier for its citizens to obtain skilled worker visas.

Prime Minister Modi was one of the first leaders to congratulate Trump on his re-election. He had also spoken to him on the phone on November 6, congratulating him on his re-election as President of the United States and the Republican Party's success in the congressional elections.

Prime Minister Modi and Trump enjoy a warm and friendly relationship. This friendly relationship between the two leaders has demonstrated the solidarity of India and the United States on various global issues.

The visit comes hours after a US military plane carrying migrants to be repatriated to India took off. It is the farthest such flights have taken under the Trump administration.

India is also keen to avoid tariffs that Trump has threatened in the past, citing India's high tariffs on American products, according to Reuters.