WASHINGTON: Strong economic relations between the United States and India can create employment opportunities in both the countries and strengthen their economies, a vision shared by both President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the White House has said.
“The President believes that more effective cooperation between the two countries can improve the economy in both of our countries, create jobs and promote economic growth. And I know that Prime Minister Modi shares those goals,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said.
He said President Obama has found Prime Minister Modi to be an effective interlocutor and partner in pursuing those goals. A meeting between the two leaders is likely next month in China, during the sidelines of the G-20 Summit. However no formal announcement has been made in this connection yet.
“The President is pleased about the progress that we’ve made over the first seven and a half years of his presidency, and we’re going to spend the remaining five months or so here trying to do all we can to advance it even further,” Mr Earnest said.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and the Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker are headed to India next week for the second Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. At the same time, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar would be in the US for a meeting with his American counterpart, Defence Secretary Ashton Carter. This is likely to be the last major engagement between India and the outgoing Obama administration.
“The President has visited India on two occasions, I believe, and each of those trips has been dedicated to strengthening the political relationship between the world’s two largest democracies but also trying to strengthen further the economic ties between our two countries,” Mr Trudeau said.
PTI