By Arun Kumar,
Washington, June 17 (IANS) US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Wednesday declared that the Obama administration was “clearly committed to furthering and deepening relationship with India in every way possible”.
Setting at rest speculation that unlike the previous Bush administration, President Barack Obama was ignoring New Delhi, she said both Obama and she herself were committed to build stronger ties with India.
“It is early in our new administration, and we are clearly committed to furthering and deepening our relationship with India in every way possible,” she declared giving the broadest exposition of the new administration’s agenda for India at the US-India Business Council’s (USIBC) Synergies Summit here.
“Now, I tell you this because I want you to place me and where I stand as Secretary of State,” Clinton said. “It is in a position of deep commitment to building stronger ties with India, a commitment based on mutual respect and mutual interests.
“And I know that President Obama feels the same way,” she said.
Clinton announced she would be visiting India next month, “which I’m looking forward to”.
“It is exciting for me to have an opportunity to return again. And it is also a great privilege and honor to be doing so representing the United States.”