Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US Vice-President Kamala Harris in Washington on Thursday, marking the first in-person meeting of Modi and the highest-ranking Indian American in US history.

Harris is the first woman and first black and south Asian vice-president, reports BBC.

Modi congratulated Harris on her historic position and invited her to return the visit.

"The people of India are waiting to welcome you," he said.

In November, residents of Harris' ancestral village, Thulasendrapuram, in India's south, lit fireworks and marched in the street following news of her win.

Modi's three-day trip ends on Friday, when he will meet President Joe Biden for the first time.