Deeper ties with India top US foreign policy priority: Obama

US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) smile after giving their opening statement at Hyderabad House in New Delhi January 25, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

NEW DELHI - Visiting US President Barack Obama said on Sunday that deeper ties with India would be top US foreign policy priority, giving a major boost to relations between the two countries.

"Deeper ties with India will be America's top foreign policy priority," Obama said at a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Obama also expressed US support to India in its bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.

Stressing that both India and the United States are committed to working together "to address our interests in the Asia-Pacific, " President Obama said: "We will jointly develop defense technologies."

On trade relations between the two countries, the US president said, "It has increased by over 60 percent, but we want to trade more."

"We are also launching a new joint program to improve air quality in Indian cities," he added.

Obama, who will attend the Republic Day celebrations on Monday, is the first US president to visit India twice during his tenure.