PANAJI: Describing India as a "great partner", the US on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet manufacturing project Make-in-India will be reflected in the defence activities between the two nations.

"Make-in-India is on Prime Minister Modi's priority list and (Indian defence minister) (Manohar) Parrikar is reflecting it in our defence activities by stressing on co-production, co-development and technology sharing," US defence secretary Ashton Carter said.

He was talking to media persons at Old Goa Church complex near here in presence of Parrikar.

"India buys military systems from other countries in a very different manner. We are going to have a different kind of relations," he said in reference to the Indo-US ties on the defence front.

Carter, touring India for a second time in a year, said his visit is significant "because India and the USA are doing many activities together to help secure this part of the world and other parts of the world."

"We have a great partner in the form of India. India and our interests overlap in many important ways. We are together to make world safer," he said.

Responding to a query on Carter's visit, Parrikar said the trip was very important as it reflected in the fact that he is coming to India for a second time within a short span.

The top American defence official, who arrived in Goa this afternoon, visited Mangueshi Temple, 20 km from Panaji and Basilica Bom Jesus at Old Goa, 9 km from here.

"I am honoured to be at such a holy place. I am grateful to my hosts for having invited me here," he said.

Fr Savio Barretto of Basilica received Carter and took him on a guided tour of the historic Church which houses relics of St Francis Xavier, a 16th century missionary.

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