Indo-US relations are mutually beneficial, say experts
Experts said strong Indo-US relations will be mutually beneficial for both countries at the two-day international conference on 'Indo-US relations and South Asia'.
Experts said strong Indo-US relations will be mutually beneficial for both countries at the two-day international conference on 'Indo-US relations and South Asia'.
Admitting that India was one of closest allies of United States of America, Jonathan Kesseler, diplomat and North India's coordinator for the American Embassy, New Delhi, said the last three months were exciting for both countries.
He stressed on the fact that USA had vital interest in India's rise. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US visit had revealed a lot of potential in this vibrant relationship. Highlighting a new trend, he said a 'Vision statement' was prepared after Modi's visit which identified areas of cooperation for open and inclusive world order, fighting terrorism, addressing infrastructure needs, deepening information exchange and building 100 smart cities.
The US diplomat was the chief guest in the conference ogrnaised by the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law.
At the Inauguration, the vice-chancellor Paramjeet S Jaswal highlighted the changing contours of the Indo-US relations. He identified a number of strategic areas from which both countries could benefit mutually.
Michael Kugelman of Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars, USA, was the keynote speaker and said in these hopeful times for Indo-US relations, the message from Washington was clear that it was ready to engage with New Delhi, despite strained relations in the past.He highlighted that Modi engaged with two critical agencies in the US- the Indian diaspora and US private sector.
The Indian diaspora was the bridge between the two countries and US Ppivate sector invested generously in India.
But Kugelman also stressed the need to be realistic and advised policy makers to lower expectations and recognise real obstacles in the relationship. Some obstacles in this relationship were serious policy divides on trade, India's position on Russia, and India's position on Iran which was not in line with the US.
The conference convenor Shveta Dhaliwal said the objective of the conference was to explore possibilities and expectations of the world at large and the region.
