Chalein Saath Saath: Forward Together We Go, says India-US vision statement

The statement also said that the Indo-US partnership will be a 'model' for rest of the world

India and the US today issued a vision statement 'Chalein Saath Saath: Forward Together We Go' promising that their 'strategic partnership' would work to combat terror threats and prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

The statement, which also said that the Indo-US partnership will be a 'model' for rest of the world, came even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi dwelt at length on the threat posed by terrorism, asserting that there is a need to take this challenge 'seriously'.

"There is a need to take the challenge of terrorism seriously. It's sad that many countries could not earlier understand the ugly face of terrorism which is enemy of humanity," Modi said while addressing the Council for Foreign Relations in New York before proceeding to Washington on the second and final leg of his five-day visit to the US.

Modi said terrorism cannot be measured on the scale of political plus and minus. "The world will have to speak in one voice against terrorism."

The vision statement was issued ahead of the private dinner hosted by President Barack Obama for Prime Minister Modi at the White House before the summit talks between leaders of the world's two largest democracies.

It said US-India strategic partnership is a joint endeavour for prosperity and peace, and through intense consultations, joint exercises and shared technology, their security cooperation will make the region and world safe and secure.

"As leaders of two great democratic nations with diverse traditions and faiths, we share a vision for a partnership in which the United States and India work together, not just for the benefit of both our nations, but for the benefit of the world," the White House said releasing the statement.

"Together, we will combat terrorist threats and keep our homelands and citizens safe from attacks, while we respond expeditiously to humanitarian disasters and crises.

"We will prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and remain committed to reducing the salience of nuclear weapons, while promoting universal, verifiable, and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament," it said.

Asserting that the US and India will have a transformative relationship as trusted partners in the 21st century, the White House said, "Our partnership will be a model for the rest of the world."

According to the vision statement, the two countries will support an open and inclusive rules-based global order, in which India assumes greater multilateral responsibility, including in a reformed United Nations Security Council.