By Arun Kumar

Washington, Dec 17 (IANS): US President Barack Obama has thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "his vision and leadership" in achieving the historic climate agreement in Paris, saying it continued their close and strong partnership on important issues.

Obama spoke by phone Wednesday "with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to thank him for his vision and leadership in achieving the historic climate agreement in Paris on December 12," a White House readout of the call said.

The president, it said noted "that it continued their close and strong partnership on a range of issues that are important to both the United States and India."

"The President and Prime Minister each underscored the importance of implementing the agreement and working together in the future on climate change, including through the Mission Innovation initiative announced in Paris on November 30," the readout said.

Earlier the Prime Minister's Office in a Twitter message said: "In a telephonic call to the Prime Minister today, he (Obama) said India played a critical role in making Climate Change Paris Summit an historic success,"

Modi also shared with President Obama the concerns of the Indian IT industry and professionals on the proposed legislation in the US Congress relating to H1B and L1 visas, it said.

Earlier last week too, Obama had called Modi and many other world leaders in a bid to clinch the climate deal.