I really think that India’s leadership in this upcoming conference will set the tone not just for today but for decades to come.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Barack Obama before concluding his visit to the country.
Mr Obama said after the meeting that much of the discussion had focused on the upcoming climate conference in Paris.
Mr Modi added that the two sides had set “ambitious national agendas” to tackle climate change.
Experts say India’s position is key if a climate change deal is to be signed in Paris later this year.
India is the world’s third largest carbon emitter, after China and the US.
‘Development aspirations’
This is the fifth meeting between Mr Obama and Mr Modi since the latter swept to power in India in May 2014.
“What I indicated to the prime minister is that I really think that India’s leadership in this upcoming conference will set the tone not just for today but for decades to come”, Mr Obama said in a statement after the meeting.