New Delhi, August 12: India and the US are expected to firm up cooperation in some areas of their recently recast strategic dialogue when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits Washington on a State visit in November this year, the new U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer said here on Wednesday. Mr. Roemer, an Obama Administration appointee, was talking to newspersons a day after presenting his credentials to President Pratibha Patil.
The US Ambassador outlined the salient aspects of the strategic dialogue announced at the end of US Secretary of State Hillary’s Clinton’s four day last month visit and emphasised Washington’s intention to advance the “robust agenda.’’ Mr. Roemer identified strategic cooperation, energy and climate change, education and development, economics, trade and agriculture and science & technology.
“We intend to announce some of the most tangible results of our partnership this November, when Prime Minister Singh travels to Washington for an official visit. The Prime Minister has invited President Obama to visit India, too, and we are all looking forward to that visit,’’ he observed.
The US Ambassador disclosed that during his hour-long meeting with Mr. Obama before leaving for India, the President advised him to get out of Delhi as often as he could. Mr. Obama also spoke “warmly and respectfully’’ about Dr. Singh. “In fact, when we had this discussion at the White House, the President touched his heart and he said, `You make sure that you extend my heartfelt wishes to the Prime Minister and his health.’ He said that he views the U.S. – India relationship as one of the most important partnerships for America’s future, added Mr. Roemer.
The Ambassador termed the various components of the strategic dialogue as “big, bold and a broad series of undertakings’’ which both sides had resolved to work on many of them simultaneously. “We plan to move from the good work done and the goodwill earned between our countries over the past decade to build a truly global partnership addressing both our nations’ top concerns and promises of better health for our children’s futures.’’
In addition to working on the strategic dialogue, both sides would also continue to improve some of the important working relations including terrorism. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials are testifying this week in Mumbai in the 26/11 trial and “we cannot forget that six Americans were killed along with dozens of Indians and so many others in that tragic and brutal attack.’’
The US would continue to seek justice for those killed and injured in Mumbai and will work closely with India to share the lessons learnt in the wake of the September 11, 2001. “To that end, we have invited the Indian Home Minister Chidambaram to visit the United States for additional discussions on precisely how our two nations can cooperate,’’ he observed.
–Agencies