India, US can achieve a lot together, says Obama

US President welcomed India's new Ambassador S Jaishankar

India and US can accomplish a lot together, President Barack Obama has said as he welcomed India's new Ambassador S Jaishankar here.

During the formal credentialing ceremony at the Oval Office of the White House yesterday, Obama warmly welcomed Jaishankar to Washington and wished him success in his responsibilities.

"The President said that US and India could accomplish a lot together," the Indian Embassy said in a statement.

"Jaishankar, in his remarks to President Obama, conveyed warm greetings from the President and the Prime Minister of India to him and Michelle Obama," the media note said.

Jaishankar assured Obama of his commitment to expand key pillars of the bilateral relationship including economic relations and trade ties, defence and security, energy, science and technology and global issues.

Along with Jaishankar, Obama also accepted formal credentials of several other new Ambassadors including those from Pakistan, Tunisia, Papua New Guinea, Belgium and Qatar.

Pakistan's former foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani is the country's new Ambassador to the US.

"The presentation of credentials is a traditional ceremony that marks the formal beginning of an Ambassador's service in Washington," the White House said in a statement.

Jaishankar, former Ambassador to China, who played a key role in India-US nuclear deal, arrived in Washington late December, at a time when relationship between two sides was experiencing some tensed moments following the arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in an alleged visa fraud case.