By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Vowing to continue to strengthen the robust relationship between India and the US, President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have agreed to work together on global development issues.
Meeting on the margins of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington Sunday, they looked forward to the upcoming US-India Strategic Dialogue as the next step in the process of deepening their partnership, according to a White House readout of the 50-minute meeting.
Obama “believes that the strategic relationship and partnership that the United States has with India is one of extreme importance to the United States and to the world”, said Ben Rhodes, deputy national security advisor for strategic communication.
“They also agreed on the need for India and the United States to work together on global development issues, including economic infrastructure, food security, and poverty reduction,” the White House said.
During the meeting, Manmohan Singh and Obama sat at the centre of Garden Room, flanked by their respective delegations.
The eight-member Indian delegation included National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, India’s Ambassador to the US Meera Shankar and senior officials of the external affairs ministry.
The 11-member US delegation included Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, National Security Advisor James Jones, Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake and senior officials.
Manmohan Singh began his four-day visit to the US Sunday, his sixth visit to the country during his prime ministerial tenure.
At this first bilateral meeting with Manmohan Singh since he was hosted here for an official visit and State Dinner in November, Obama, reiterated his commitment to visit India in 2010, the White House said.
Discussing the situation in Afghanistan and “their shared vision for a strong, stable, and prosperous South Asia,” Obama “welcomed the humanitarian and development assistance that India continues to provide to Afghanistan”.
Obama also thanked Prime Minister Singh for his attendance at the Nuclear Security Summit and for India’s role in making the Summit a success.
They also discussed a number of regional and global issues, including counter-terrorism and non-proliferation.
“And of course, they discussed a range of issues related to nuclear security in advance of the summit, and India’s commitment to making the summit a success,” Rhodes said. “India has a very strong appreciation for the importance of non-proliferation and nuclear security, and the threat posed by nuclear terrorism,” he noted.