U.S. supports India as global power: Obama
Tuesday, 09 November 2010, 06:49 IST
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New Delhi: U.S. President Barack Obama Monday said he sees India as USA's equal partner not just for mutual but global benefit and called for an end to barriers such as trade protectionism that can stifle this alliance. "I stand before you today because I am convinced that the interests of the United States - and the interests we share with India - are best advanced in partnership," Obama told a joint sitting of Indian parliament. "United States not only welcomes India as a global power. We fervently support it." Having sought to quell the voices of protest back home against outsourcing of jobs to countries like India in his earlier remarks, and having assured Indian companies of a free and open U.S. market, Obama said India, too, must reciprocate. "The United States remains - and will continue to remain - one of the most open economies in the world. And by opening markets and reducing barriers to foreign investment, India can realize its full economic potential as well." Obama, only the second U.S. president to address the joint sitting of Indian parliament after Bill Clinton, also asked New Delhi to join Washington in ensuring global financial stability at G20 and give the current round of trade talks a major push forward. While stating that their partnership can launch a second green revolution in India and open a large market of 1.17 billion people for U.S. firms, he said the two countries can also work together to fight global hunger, poverty and disease. The president said the two sides can work together as equal partners in a host of areas including climate change, clean energy, agriculture productivity, healthcare and even research among students, colleges and universities. "I want every Indian citizen to know: The United States of America will not simply be cheering you on from the sidelines. We will be right there with you, shoulder to shoulder." Obama said he was impressed by India's reforms that had unleashed an economic marvel to lift tens of millions from poverty and create one of the world's largest middle classes. "Promoting shared prosperity, preserving peace and security, strengthening democratic governance and human rights -- these are the responsibilities of leadership. As global partners this is the leadership United States and India can offer in the 21st century." According to Obama, as global partners, India and the U.S. can promote prosperity in both countries and create the kind of high-tech, high-wage jobs that are required in the future. "With my visit, we are now ready to begin implementing our civil nuclear agreement. This will help meet India's growing energy needs, create thousands of jobs in both countries. We need to forge partnerships in high-tech sectors like defense and civil space." Obama said the two countries will also forge partnerships in high-tech sectors such as defense and civil space, adding his visit had seen the removal of Indian organisations from USA's entity list that prevented export of high-end technology in these areas. "Both of these steps will ensure that Indian companies seeking high-tech trade and technologies from America are treated the same as our closest allies and partners."
Source: IANS
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