New Delhi: Against the backdrop of China exerting its influence in South China Sea, US President Barack Obama today said freedom of navigation must be upheld in the Asia Pacific and welcomed a greater role for India in the region.
“United States welcomes a greater role for India in Asia Pacific where the freedom of navigation must be upheld and dispute must be resolved peacefully,” he said in his town hall speech attended by a select audience comprising students, scholars and other eminent persons.
Obama also said if the two countries wanted to be “true global partners” they must do more together globally. “So to ensure international security and peace, multi-lateral institutions created in 20th century must be updated for the 21st. Therefore, I support a reformed United Nations Security Council that includes India as a permanent member,” he said.
The US President whose three-day State Visit concludes here today said both the countries can be even closer partners in ensuring mutual security.
Underlining that both nations have known the anguish of terrorism, Obama said, “We stand united in the defence of our people. Now we are deepening our defence cooperation against new challenges”.
“We can be even closer partners in ensuring our mutual security. Both our nations have known the anguish of terrorism. We stand united in the defence of our people. Now we are deepening our defence cooperation against the new challenges,” he said.
The US President said goal for all of us should be a nuclear weapons free world.“Even as we acknowledge the world as it is, we must never stop working for the world as it should be. A world withoutnuclear weapons. That should be a goal for all of us,” he said.
The US President also said that with power comes responsibility and in this region India can play a positive role and help other countries forge a better future. “From Burma to Sri Lanka where today there is new hope for democracy. With your experience in elections you can help other countries with theirs,” he said.
Obama said with expertise in science and medicine, India can do more in the world to fight disease and develop vaccines so that no child dies from preventable disease. The US President said together both can stand up against human trafficking and work to end the scourge of modern day slavery.
Obama said being global partners means confronting global challenge of climate change.
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