HANOI — US President Joe Biden has said that he raised issues of human rights and the importance of a free press with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi.

Biden was in the Indian capital to attend the G20 summit. He also held a bilateral meeting with Modi.

The US president left India on Sunday before the summit ended to travel to Vietnam.

He made the remarks at a press conference in Hanoi.

The G20 summit had concluded with a joint declaration that mentioned the contentious topic of the war in Ukraine, but it was unanimously adopted. Several world leaders had on Sunday praised Modi after India as G20 president managed to negotiate a consensus on the agreement.

Biden said he had had "substantial discussions" with Modi about continuing to strengthen the India-US relationship.

"And, as I always do, I raised the important [subject] of respecting human rights and the vital role that civil society and a free press have in building a strong and prosperous country with Modi," he added.

Critics say that attacks on minorities, especially Muslims, have risen since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014, led by Modi. His government has denied this. According to the latest World Press Freedom index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in May, India's spot has dropped 11 places from last year to 161.

Activists and rights campaigners have often called on Western leaders including Biden to raise these issues with Modi. But experts say the US will tread carefully as India is seen as a crucial ally in attempts to stem China's rise.

In May, the US laid out the red carpet for Modi, who travelled there on a state visit. Before the visit, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters that while the US would make its "views known" when it sees challenges to freedoms, "we do so in a way where we don't seek to lecture or assert that we don't have challenges ourselves".

In Hanoi, Biden also spoke about the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor deal which was announced during the summit and called it a "ground-breaking partnership".

The corridor aims at linking countries in the Middle East by rail and connecting them to India by port and analysts see it as a counter to China's Belt and Road project.

Biden travelled to India on Friday for the G20 summit. After his arrival, he and Modi held bilateral talks which was then followed by a dinner at Modi's official residence.

Modi has not held a solo press conference since he became prime minister, and journalists were not invited to ask questions to the leaders after the talks or the dinner.

India's statement issued after the meeting said that the two leaders pledged co-operation over a number of issues, and did not mention a conversation about human rights. — BBC