Obama to focus on climate change in summit with Modi

Washington, Sep 25: Climate change will be a key focus of President Barack Obama's summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials said as US looks at India as critical to a successful global effort to combat climate change. Obama will have a bilateral meeting with Modi Monday after his address to the UN General Assembly, the President's Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes told reporters Thursday in a conference call. "This will give the two leaders an opportunity to build on the discussions they had earlier this year during the President's historic trip to India," he said. "We are deeply committed to strengthening the US-Indian relationship, building our economic and commercial ties, advancing our political and security cooperation in Asia and around the world," Rhodes said. "Notably, India will be critical to a successful global effort to combat climate change, so the two leaders will certainly address their shared vision of how to approach the upcoming meetings in Paris," he said. A UN conference on climate change in Paris in December aims to reach an accord that commits every country to curbing their emissions.