US Congressman Richard Boucher arrives

Richard Boucher, key US Congressman, arrived for a state visit during which he will discuss steps to further enhance the relationship between the two countries.

Richard Boucher, key US Congressman, arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a state visit during which he will discuss with his Indian counterparts steps to further enhance the relationship between the two countries in the backdrop of a joint statement issued in New Delhi last month.

HT Image

Boucher, who heads the State Department's newly-reconstituted Bureau for South and Central Asia, will be meeting Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran on Friday to discuss a wide range of issues.

He will also hold meetings with S Jaishankar, Joint Secretary (Americas) in the External Affairs Ministry.

The talks will cover the entire gamut of bilateral relations with the US. The visit comes less than a week after Saran's visit to Washington to discuss next steps on the areas of cooperation, including in civil nuclear field identified in the March 2 joint statement issued during the visit of US President George W Bush.

Saran had met senior Bush Administration officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns besides key Congressmen to push the nuclear deal.

Significantly just a day ahead of his visit Rice strongly advocated the need for the civil nuclear deal with India before the US Congress, which is debating enactment of a law to allow trade with New Delhi in this sector.