BLAKE-DIALOGUE 2LST

"I think what's notable about this is that it'll be
the first time that our two governments are going to have
really a whole-of-government conversation about not so much
what we've accomplished, but to look ahead about what we can
accomplish, and particularly look ahead to the President's
visit sometime this fall to India," he said.
The members of the Indian delegation would include
Human Resources Minister Kapil Sibal, Planning Commission
Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Science and
Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan.
The American side would have National Security
Advisor General (rtd) James Jones, Commerce Secretary Gary
Locke, FBI Director Mike Mueller and USAID Director Dr Raj
Shah, among others.
"We will have a plenary session that will cover all
the bilateral issues that we're working on --
counter-terrorism, export controls and high technology,
economics and finance, infrastructure, education, energy,
climate change," he said.
"The purpose of that is really, to look broadly at
the relationships to try to break down some of these
stovepipes that we've seen and think creatively and
strategically about the new opportunities before us in this
relationship," Blake said.
Later in the day, Clinton will host a reception to
honour the Indian delegation, which would also include members
of the Indian Diaspora and other people who contribute so much
to the Indo-US relationship.
"We're very proud of the 2.5 million Indian Americans
who are there, who really do provide a unique bridge for the
United States with our friends in India.
We're also very proud of the hundred thousand-plus
Indian students that are here studying in the United States,
the largest single group of foreign students.
Again, we think that this education bill that's now
pending in the Indian parliament will help to broaden even
further the education cooperation in that area," Blake said.
PTI