India is a rising and responsible global power: Obama

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jun 4 (PTI) Asserting that India is a rising
and responsible global power, US President Barack Obama Friday
said he firmly believe the relationship between the two
counties will be a defining partnership in the 21st century.
"The United States values our partnership not because of
where India is on a map but because of what we share and where
we can go together.
India is indispensable to the future that we seek, a
future of security and prosperity for all nations," Obama said
in his address to the reception hosted by Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, in honour of the External Affairs Minister, S
M Krishna.
"That's why a third of my Cabinet has already visited
India. That is why officials from across my administration are
a part of this strategic dialogue.
That's why I want to thank you for the progress that
we've made together since Prime Minister (Manmohan) Singh's
visit," the US President said before a select audience at the
Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department.
"Michelle and I were honoured to welcome Prime Minister
Singh and Mrs Kaur to the White House for the very first
official state visit of my presidency.
It was a State visit that demonstrated that our relations
with India are at the highest of priorities for my
administration and for me personally, as president of the
United States," he said recollecting the visit of the Prime
Minister in November.
"I said then that India is a leader in Asia and around
the world. It's a rising power and a responsible global power.
That's why I firmly believe that the relationship between
the United States and India will be a defining partnership in
the 21st century," he said.
"The new National Security Strategy that I released last
week makes this absolutely clear.
A fundamental pillar of America's comprehensive
engagement with the world involves deepening our cooperation
with 21st century centres of influence, and that includes
India," Obama said.
"Moreover, the relationship between the US and India is
fundamentally unique because, as our strategy explains, we
share common interests but we also share common values, as the
world's two largest democracies and as countries that are rich
in diversity, with deep and close connections among our
people," the US President said, who made a rare appearance at
a State Department reception hosted for a visiting foreign
minister.
Obama said the two countries are deepening their economic
cooperation on finance and investment and the trade that
creates jobs in both of nations. (MORE) PTI LKJ
MRD


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