New Delhi, Sept 10 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who received the Emeritus Senior Minister ( ESM) of Singapore Goh Chok Tong here on Wednesday, conveyed India's keen desire to partner with Singapore.

Goh was accompanied by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry S Iswaran and Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee.

Goh congratulated Prime Minister Modi on his emphatic victory in the elections and for presenting an ambitious vision of India's economic and social transformation. He also encouraged Prime Minister Modi to work towards developing India as a global manufacturer through a combination of skill development, standard setting and access to the global market.

In this context, he called upon India to engage more proactively with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership initiative.

Prime Minister Modi conveyed India's keen desire to partner with Singapore, while Goh suggested that both sides should work for entering into a strategic economic partnership.

Goh extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit Singapore. The Prime Minister said that he looked forward to visiting Singapore at the earliest convenience.

Both sides also looked forward to an exchange of visits by the Presidents of India and Singapore as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. (ANI)