“That is why we elevated our relations through a Declaration of Friendship and adopted a Joint Strategic Vision for Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region earlier this year, when our leaders met in New Delhi for India’s Republic Day”, said Swaraj.
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Among the other attending the reception were U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
He also talked about the enduring relationship that the USA and India have enjoyed over the past four decades, and hoped that these ties would continue to develop with the same passion of the past. “The eyes of history remain fixed on India and the United States as they move closer to ushering in what could be a whole new era”. More bilateral trade in my humble opinion – it’s for India to decide is in the overwhelming interest of both our countries. And all of you here and to many of our very, very capable – beyond capable – globally recognized, extraordinary CEOs who are here of major companies, and so many of you who are forging this relationship, we thank you. Kerry was speaking at the 40th Leadership summit of US-India Business Council (USIBC), the largest bilateral trade association in the USA dedicated to strengthening the economic and commercial relationship between the United States and India. We’re in a new era, as we kick of the first strategic and commercial dialogue between our two countries.
“The business of diplomacy in India’s present government is business“.
“Our goal is to become India’s best friend”.
Describing climate change as a great challenge, Kerry expressed support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plan to help India’s economy become more reliant on renewable sources of power. “We want to ensure that decisions are transparent and processes well established so that as investors, you will sleep peacefully”, he said, referring to the cancellation of coal block allocations by the court.
Quoting Indian Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore’s words that “We can not cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water”, Biden invited the two sides to “cross the sea together”.
These initiatives present real commercial and business opportunities for the United States industry to partner with Indian public and private sector, for a win-win outcome.
“It’s also smart politically, because a recent survey reported that 73 percent of Indians view climate change as the most pressing global concern”, Kerry said.
“We will also stress the importance of technical cooperation and exchange between regulators and the need for establishing a technical dialogue”.
“We’ve experienced it first-hand – 3 million Indian- Americans whose talent have shaped the fabric of this country in our schools, our hospitals, our research labs, in our courtrooms, in our government, in the arts and entertainment, and from Silicon Valley to Main Street”, he said.
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And I believe that each of our countries is – this is really an historic mark and moment, because each of our countries came from the same colonial background. “You live up to your obligation to future generations to do what we need to do with respect to the environment”. Each of our countries is ethnically and culturally diverse, and each is a laborer for peace, and each seeks a world in which the light of the human spirit overcomes darkness. “And although, differences of ideology have separated us in the past … we are in the end, the most natural of partners”.
