A week after Deputy Secretary of State William Burns held talks with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi, Biswal, who was present at the meeting, exuded confidence that the US can work in a strong and collaborative partnership with the new government.

"The Modi government has identified infrastructure, manufacturing, modernising the military, energy security, attracting greater foreign investment, and expanding access to skills training and education as its key priorities," she said.

Biswal said Modi by inviting leaders from the SAARC countries for his swearing-in ceremony signalled that India will play a greater role in its immediate neighbourhood and across the Indo-Pacific region.

She said a strong India will play a critical role in the coming decades in shaping the Asian landscape, and the U.S. partnership with New Delhi will play an increasingly important role in that context.

"If India is to achieve its economic and strategic potential, it must overcome the myriad economic and governance challenges it is facing including slow growth, energy shortages and flagging foreign investment.

"With a solid foundation to work from, our bilateral engagements over the course of the next several months will reinforce India-US strategic, economic and people-to-people ties."

Biswal also underlined India's potential in enhancing economic ties and peace in the neighbourhood.
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Source: PTI