On the eve of a crucial meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama, the White House said the United States considers India a very important country in a very important part of the world.White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that the invitation of State Dinner, the first of the Obama Administration, extended to Dr Singh shows the significance Obama attaches to his relationship with India.The two leaders are expected to meet at the White House following which they are likely to issue a joint statement and address a press conference. Besides discussing bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of regional and global and regional issues including counter-terrorism and climate change.