The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton rang up the External Affairs Minister Mr. Salman Khurshid and thanked him for India's leadership role in securing the dialogue partner status for the United States in the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation.

The phone call from Clinton came a day after the US was inducted as a dialogue partner in the 20-nation grouping at its meeting in Gurgaon, following hectic behind-the-stage diplomacy by India.The US has joined the grouping as the sixth dialogue partner after China, Japan, Britain, France and Egypt.

Official sources said, during the 15-minute telephonic conversation with Mr. Khurshid, Ms.Clinton emphasized the importance of Indo-US relations and the need to carry them forward. She invited him to visit the US next year.

Mr.Khurshid conveyed to Ms Clinton “deep sympathies” over the devastation caused in the United States by superstorm Sandy.