PM's state visit to showcase strong Indo-US relationship
Lalit K Jha/ PTI / Washington Nov 20, 2009, 10:51 IST
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit here as Barack Obama's first state guest is expected to showcase the significance the US President attaches to Indo-US relationship, with global issues including climate and Afghanistan to feature prominently along with bilateral ties.
Obama will welcome Singh at the White House on Tuesday morning as the first State Guest of his presidency, in what senior administration officials have said is no co-incidence but a conscious decision to send a strong signal on how critical the relationship is to the United States.
Obama has identified India as a natural ally of the US and wants to take the Indo-US relationship to a new level.
The US now sees India as an "emerging power" and wants to work with it on the global front.
"We want very much to strengthen our partnership with India because we have common interest, we have common values and we think India's emergence in this manner would only be a good thing for world affairs," a senior administration official told PTI.
When the two leaders sit down at the White House next week, unlike in the past, their discussion would no longer be confined to bilateral issues, he said.
They are expected to discuss a range of regional and global issues including Af-Pak, climate, and are also likely to discuss Obama's recent trip to Asia, particularly China, besides identifying ways to deepen strategic relationship.
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