US Energy Secretary Rick Perry said Thursday that India and the United States working together will make the world a better place, as he exuded confidence that the two countries would easily overcome their differences.
"If India and the US are together pulling this wagon in the same direction, the future of the world will be better and the future of their peoples collectively are better," Perry said in his remarks at the Second Leadership Summit of the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum.
Observing that he has never been as excited about the future of the world as he is today, Perry said that India and US have an important role to play in it.
Referring to the growing cooperation between India and the US in the energy sector, Perry said that so far India has received 36 deliveries of natural gas from the United States.
India and the US, he asserted, would lead the world because of the innovation.
Also Read
"India and America will lead the world because of the intellect that are in these two countries. Giving them the incentives to go forward with the innovation to allow us to use the energy that we've been blessed with in a way that is as emission free as would have ever been in history from the standpoint of every megawatt hour that is produced," Perry said.
In an apparent reference to the trade and tariff differences between the two countries, Perry said despite differences, the two sides are going to come together. "At the end of a disagreement, we're always going to come together and shake hands," he said.
USISPF chairman John Chambers said that re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi "is the start of a new era for India and India-US relations."
"It is essential that we level the playing field and stay away from protectionism. I am confident that we achieve USD 327 billion in bilateral trade by 2025 if we grow at 13 per cent every year. I challenge the government and industry to work together to advance this objective, Chambers said.
"I think the US-India ties can be the fundamental relationship, bound by a common architecture capable of changing the world," he said.
Nicholas Burns, the former US deputy secretary of state, said this has been the fastest growing strategic partnership that the Americans had in past several decades.
Referring to the differences between the two countries on trade, he supported President Donald Trump on allegations that India has a high tariff and is protectionist.
"We should" talk about it, Burns said as he pushed for India, US and China talking on a host of regional and global issues including climate change and Indo-Pacific region.
Former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal said that the two countries are on a path to become ally effectively.
At the same time, he warned the Trump Administration of not pushing India too much on strategic choices. Any sanctions on India on S-400 would be a major setback to the relationship, the former diplomat said.
USISPF president and CEO Mukesh Aghi said that in collaboration with government and industry leaders, "we are making tremendous strides in moving the needle on our commercial priorities.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
