Jerusalem, Jun 10 (PTI) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Wednesday in what was their first telephonic conversation after the Israeli leader formed a new government last month, and the third since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Both the leaders agreed to increase cooperation in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and also to expand cooperation in other areas," an adviser to Netanyahu told PTI.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi, Benjamin Netanyahu Discuss India-Israel Collaboration in Post COVID-19 World.

Modi invited Netanyahu to visit India "when circumstances permit", he said.

The two leaders in the past consulted twice on ways to deal with the coronavirus crisis and India supplied Hydroxychloroquine and other medical equipment to Israel at Netanyahu's request.

Also Read | ICC Defers Decision on Fate of T20 World Cup Until Next Month: Live Breaking News Headlines & Coronavirus Updates, June 10, 2020:.

Prime Minister Modi also tweeted saying he "had an excellent conversation with my friend PM @netanyahu about how India-Israel can collaborate in the post-COVID world".

He congratulated Netanyahu on assuming the prime ministerial office for a record fifth time. "India-Israel partnership will grow ever stronger in the days to come," Modi said.

Netanyahu succeeded in forming the new government on May 17 after struggling to get a clear mandate in three general elections in less than a year. The government has a record 36 ministers and 16 deputy ministers.

The Israeli leader in July last became the longest serving premier in the country's history surpassing David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)