India-US relationship 'unprecedented': Richard Verma

US Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, on Thursday said that the relationship between New Delhi and Washington is 'unprecedented'.

"A very positive trajectory as the way we are going. I am really optimistic about where we are going in key areas, in trade and economics, in climate and clean energy, in science, space and health and so many different areas. So, we are now cooperating not only in South Asia, but our doctors and health experts are now working in African countries. We are talking about maritime cooperation not just in South Asia, but in the Asia Pacific," said Verma.

"So, I think the Prime Minister had it exactly right in Time Magazine recently when he said it's not just what the U.S. and India can do for each other (but) it's what we can do for the world," he added.

The US Ambassador to India further said the relationship between the two sides is 'strategic plus'.

"We are already at the next level. We have been referring to it as strategic plus," he added.

Verma also made it clear that New Delhi's increasing ties with Beijing would not affect the relationship between India and the United States.

"Not at all. Look, we both have in many ways very similar relationships with China. There are elements of cooperation, elements of competition. The Prime Minister just had a very successful visit to China. We both have economic connections and when we have security concerns and human rights concern we raise them. But U.S. -India relationship stands on its own," he said.

The bilateral relations between India and U.S. have developed into a "global strategic partnership" based on shared democratic values and increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues.

The emphasis placed by the government in on development and good governance has created new opportunity to reinvigorate bilateral ties and enhance cooperation under the new motto --- "Chalein Saath Saath: Forward Together We Go", which was adopted following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first summit with President Barack Obama on September 30 , 2014 in Washington DC.

Regular exchange of high level political visits has provided sustained momentum to bilateral cooperation, while the wide-ranging and ever-expanding dialogue architecture has established a long-term framework for India-U.S. engagement.

The India-U.S. bilateral cooperation is today broad-based and multi-sectoral, covering trade and investment, defence and security, education, science and technology, cyber security, high-technology, civil nuclear energy, space technology and applications, clean energy, environment, agriculture and health.