As President Obama welcomes new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House for a private dinner, it will be more than US amends for having denied Mr. Modi a visa (and maintaining the ban for nearly a decade) over his handling of sectarian riots in India’s Gujarat state in 2002 when he was chief minister.

It represents an opportunity for both Modi and Mr. Obama to address – and they hope, advance – key issues to both countries. Here are five of those issues:

Economic issues: Modi met with CEOs of Fortune 500 companies in New York, and clearly the US and India are doing business and want to do more business. But talks at the top on this subject have failed in the past.

Relations with China: Modi has expressed his interest in economic relations with China, but is fearful of incursions on the border. He wants increase US-India security ties.

Counter-terrorism: The US wants help from India in stemming local recruiting by terrorist organizations. India wants help with Pakistan.

Climate change: Obama has made this a priority. Modi says that the economic costs of addressing climate change should be borne by wealthy countries.

Indian-Americans. A rousing rally from this group greeted Modi at Madison Square Garden. Modi would like them to help build India. Obama would like their votes for Democrats.