The relationship between India and the US, which has improved tremendously in the last one decade, is "destined to grow even stronger", Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said.
The remarks were made by Clinton yesterday at a State Department event organised to send off a cultural delegation to India to commemorate the 50th anniversary of India tour of Dr Martin Luther King, the great American civil rights leader.
Thanking the Indian government for supporting the US delegation, Clinton said this is a reflection that India also understands that the deep and broad partnership the two countries are forging is one based on common history and values.
"It is because of that, it is destined to grow even stronger in the future," Clinton told the members of the delegation.
The delegation comprising several eminent US lawmakers and celebrities such as legendary jazz musician Herbie Hancock, during their trip to India would retrace the historic month-long visit of King and his wife to India in Feb 1959.
"The most important aspect of this is that our relationship is strong, not because of just the two governments, but because it is a relationship based on shared values and shared aspirations," Indian Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen told.
"This is reflected in the links that bind our two people," Sen said, adding, "It's people to people relationship and that again is manifested by the visit of Martin Luther King Jr to India at a time when one presumed that the relationship would have been difficult."
{{/usCountry}}"This is reflected in the links that bind our two people," Sen said, adding, "It's people to people relationship and that again is manifested by the visit of Martin Luther King Jr to India at a time when one presumed that the relationship would have been difficult."
{{/usCountry}}So this is another reminder of that aspect as well, he said.
Asked if this is a good start for the new administration as far as Indo-US relationship is concerned, Sen said, "Absolutely."
It's a lot of symbolism, but there is a lot of substance in this symbolism also, he said.