US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday called India a natural partner and invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington, turning the page at least rhetorically on friction despite new-found US warmth towards China.

One week after joining US President Donald Trump on a state visit to Beijing, Rubio – visiting both Asian powers for the first time – flew to New Delhi and met Modi for more than an hour, inviting the premier to visit the White House soon.

“The world’s oldest democracy in the United States and the world’s largest democracy here in India are natural partners now and in the future,” said Rubio, sporting a tuxedo in the searing heat as he entered a gala dinner for business and political leaders at the US ambassador’s residence.

Modi said he discussed with Rubio issues related to regional and global peace and security.

“India and the United States will continue to work closely for the global good,” he said in a social media post.

Cutting a ribbon earlier at a new US embassy building, Rubio said the US-India relationship lay “at the cornerstone of our approach to the Indo-Pacific”.