New Delhi: US President Donald Trump formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to attend the G- 7 summit to be held in the US later 2020. The two dignitaries spoke over phone for 25 minutes even as racial tensions roiled America, discussing a range of topics including the situation on the India- China border, the Covid- 19 pandemic and the need for reforms in W.H.O.

US President Trump acting on his desire to expand the size and scope of the grouping of major world economic powers. Modi expressed concern regarding the ongoing civil disturbances in the US, and conveyed his best wishes for an early resolution of the situation, said India in a statement. Prime Minister commanded on an expanded G- 7 as a creative and far- sighted approached acknowledges such a development would be in keeping with the emerging realities of the post- Covid- 19 world. Modi said India would be happy to work with the US and others to ensure the success of the summit.

According to the Indian statement, the two leaders exchanged views on their topical issues, such as Covid- 19 situation in the two countries, the situation on the India- China border, and the need for reforms in the W.H.O. The reference to the border tensions indicates the US’s critical view of China’s intrusions across the L.A.C, voice by senior American official. And that any divergence over Trump’s claims to have recently discussed the issue with Modi did not affect the cordial exchange. Reacting to Trump’s statement and his offer to mediate, India had said the two leaders have not spoken since April and that the decision was on anti-malarial drug HCQ for Covid- 19 treatment.