OBAMA 2

When told that there did not seem to be any "big ticket
items" on the agenda, Obama responded, "I do not want to
pre-empt the announcements that the Prime Minister and I will
make while I am in India.
"I think you can expect a series of announcements on how
we are going to deepen and broaden our cooperation on a range
of things that will have a direct and very positive impact on
millions of people both in India and the United States.
"There will be big items on the agenda, and -- just as
importantly -- I believe that we will build an even stronger
foundation for the US-India partnership going forward."
The President went on to emphasise that Indo-US
relationship "now goes well beyond any one particular issue".
He said, "if you look at the breadth of everything we are
working on now -- from economic engagement to counter
terrorism and security cooperation, from clean energy to
development .. it goes well beyond the type of cooperation
that we pursued just a few years ago."
All this indicated "the enormously positive trajectory
of US-India relations", Obama said.
Outlining his vision of the relationship between the
two countries, the President said, "my vision is a US-India
partnership in which we work together to shape a more secure,
stable, and just world.
"My visit gives me an opportunity to experience first
hand your fascinating country, discuss issues of mutual
concern with my friend Prime Minister Singh, and work with him
to bring our cooperation on a broad range of issues to a new
level.
"It is also important that I am visiting India as the
first stop on a major trip to Asia, as I see India as a
cornerstone of America's engagement in Asia, just as it is
fundamental to our engagement in multilateral forums like the
G-20.
"To me, the US and India share an indispensable
partnership, one that has benefits for both our countries and
the world." (MORE) PTI