India, US to expand strategic partnership for global good

By Arun Kumar, Washington, Nov 25 : Reaffirming the 'global strategic partnership between India and the United States, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama have vowed to expand it for peace, stability and prosperity in Asia, and for the betterment of the world.

As a Joint Statement issued Tuesday after their meeting in the Oval Office with all the bells and whistles of a state visit, the first of the Obama presidency, said: "President Obama stated the United States looks forward to a stable and prosperous India playing an increasingly important role in world affairs."

The two leaders "today reaffirmed the global strategic partnership between India and the United States, and launched a new phase in this partnership," it said as "they committed to build upon the India-US Strategic Dialogue announced in July 2009."

"Commending the deepening bilateral cooperation between the world's two largest democracies across a broad spectrum of human endeavours, the two leaders recognized that the common ideals and complementary strengths of India and the United States today provide a foundation for addressing the global challenges of the 21st century."

The two leaders noted that the shared values cherished by their peoples and espoused by their founders - democracy, pluralism, tolerance, openness, and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights - are acquiring an increasingly greater prominence in building a more peaceful, prosperous, inclusive, secure and sustainable world.

"These values are exemplified by the vibrant linkages between their peoples, which are a unique asset for both countries, and are reflected in the role played by the Indian-American community," the Joint Statement said.

"The two leaders resolved to harness these shared strengths and to expand the US-India global partnership for the benefit of their countries, for peace, stability and prosperity in Asia, and for the betterment of the world," it said.