Time to tap 'incredible possibilities' for India and US: Kerry

Setting a positive tone for US President Barack Obama's visit, Secretary of State John Kerry today said it is the perfect time to tap "incredible possibilities" between India and the US, as he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying his initiatives like 'Make in India' will be a win-win situation for the world.
Kerry also said he has been very much impressed with his 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' campaign and suggested emulating this "pretty good slogan" at the global as well as at Indo-US levels.
After attending Vibrant Gujarat Summit here, Kerry also met Modi and discussed the visit of Obama, who will be the Chief Guest for Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

Obama, who will be the first US President to be the Republic Day chief guest and also the first to visit India twice while in office, will hold wide-ranging discussions with Modi and the two sides are expected to sign a slew of agreements to bolster defence, economic and strategic ties.
Kerry later tweeted that he held a "good" meeting with Modi regarding ties between the US and India, "the world's oldest and largest democracies", as also issues like climate change and economic growth.
At the Summit, Kerry also referred to Modi's journey "from a young man who sold tea right by the rail road here in Gujarat to the PM's residence on the Race Course Road".

"We join with you celebrating extraordinary new chapter of India that is being written today," he said at the biennial global business summit inaugurated this morning by Modi.

On ties between the two countries, Kerry said, "The moment has never been more right to tap the incredible possibilities between India and the US." He added that the economic partnership is already getting stronger by the day.
Making a special mention of Modi's campaign 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', Kerry said this initiative of 'participation of all for development of all' was a "pretty good slogan for all of us to adopt, and if we adopt it we can get the job done."

"We will turn Modi's 'Make in India' initiative a win-win opportunity for the planet as a whole," he said.
Kerry said that President Obama was "very excited" to be the chief guest at Republic Day celebrations.
"And he will the first sitting US President to visit India twice while in office," Kerry said.
Referring to the terror attack in Paris last week, Kerry said the entire world is with the people of France, not just in "anger and outrage" but in "solidarity and commitment" to the cause of confronting extremism.