Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today stressed that the relationship between India and the United States will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century.
At the Anna Centenary Library, Ms. Clinton was impressed with the library in Chennai, India.
“President Obama made a state visit to India last year. I have been here twice in the last two years. And why, one might ask? Why are we coming to India so often and welcoming Indian officials to Washington as well? It’s because we understand that much of the history of the 21st century will be written in Asia, and that much of the future of Asia will be shaped by decisions not only of the Indian Government in New Delhi, but of governments across India, and perhaps, most importantly, by the 1.3 billion people who live in this country.” -Ms. Clinton
She stressed that both United States and India have a great commitment to their government-to-government relations. She stressed that both countries also have an even greater commitment to our people-to-people ones.
She highlighted that the United States is betting on India’s future. It is betting that the opening of India’s markets to the world will produce a more prosperous India and a more prosperous South Asia. It will also spill over into Central Asia and beyond into the Asia Pacific region.
“We are betting that advances in science and technology of all kinds will both enrich Indian lives and advance human knowledge everywhere. And we are betting that India’s vibrant, pluralistic democracy will produce measurable results and improvements for your citizens and will inspire others to follow a similar path of openness and tolerance.” -Ms. Clinton
She noted that the United States has watched the progress of India with great admiration. She added that India has maintained that democratic foundation while focusing on improving lives, particularly on the poorest in a way that the United States both recognizes and admires.
“Our nations are built on the same bedrock beliefs about democracy, pluralism, opportunity, and innovation. We share common interests like stopping terrorism and spurring balanced and broad-based economic growth that goes deeply into our societies.” -Ms. Clinton
According to Ms. Clinton, two governments have established a Strategic Dialogue which was announced in 2009. She stressed that both countries have already established a new clean energy research and development center that will be putting out the requests for proposals to advance their common goal of clean energy and combat climate change.
“We have worked together for the important task of preventing cyber attacks on our respective infrastructures. We are talking about a new bilateral investment treaty that will build on the 20 percent increase in trade we’ve seen just this last year. And we have watched as trade is increasingly flowing in both directions.” -Ms. Clinton
Ms. Clinton pointed out that both countries have new initiatives linking students and businesses and communities.
“India is taking its rightful place in the meeting rooms and conference halls where the world’s most consequential questions are debated and decided. And President Obama recognized this when he said that the United States looks forward to a reformed United Nations Security Council that includes India as a permanent member.” -Ms. Clinton
Ms. Clinton emphasized that both countries can work more productively together on today’s most complex global challenges such as advancing democratic values.
“The world’s oldest democracy and its largest can both support the democratic transitions taking place in the Middle East and North Africa.” -Ms. Clinton
She elaborated that the United States has always been a Pacific power because of its very great blessing of geography. And India straddling the waters from the Indian to the Pacific Ocean is, with the United States, a steward of these waterways.
