New impulse to broaden Indo-U.S. ties, says Mansingh

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, JUNE 20. The reciprocal visits last year of the President of the United States and the Prime Minister, along with the many understandings and agreements, have provided a new impulse to the broadening and deepening of relations between the U.S. and India in the 21st century, according to the Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Mr. Lalit Mansingh.

Mr. Mansingh made these remarks to the President of the U.S., Mr. George Bush, in formally presenting his credentials at the White House on Wednesday afternoon. ``My foremost task would be to work with your Government to build upon these sound foundations and contribute towards the consolidation of a partnership that my Prime Minister has characterised as one between two natural allies,'' he said.

Expatiating on the state of the bilateral relations between the two countries, he said that while globalisation had ushered in new opportunities, it also brought about challenges where solutions required joint approaches. ``One of these is the scourge of international terrorism. The setting up of the India- U.S. Working Group on Counterterrorism and the Forum for Dialogue on Afghanistan are important steps in combating this menace,'' Mr. Mansingh stressed.

``There are, of course, areas where we have differences of opinion or approach. That is only natural between two friendly, democratic countries. It also reflects the strength and vitality of our relationship. We have, in the past, sought to address divergences in our views through honest and open dialogue. India is committed to continuing this approach in the spirit of candour and understanding which characterises our relations,'' Mr. Mansingh said.

The Ambassador referred to the more than one-and-a-half million people from India who had made America their home. ``They have prospered and thrived here and have contributed to this country's rich diversity and its economic and technological success. They constitute a vital element in the continuing endeavour to forge a dynamic relationship of a close friendship, deep understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation between our two countries,'' Mr. Mansingh noted.

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