President Barack Obama believes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an effective partner in strengthening economic relations between United States and India.
According to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, President Obama is also pleased over the progress made in US-India relations over the first seven and a half years of his presidency.
He added that the President plans to spend the remaining five months or so to advance the relationship between the two countries even further.
Josh Earnest further said that both President Obama and PM Modi share a common vision under which strong economic relations between India and US will create employment opportunities in both countries and strengthen their economies.
“The President believes that more effective cooperation between the two countries can improve the economy in both of our countries, create jobs and promote economic growth. And I know that Prime Minister Modi shares those goals,” Josh Earnest said.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and the Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker are headed to India next week for the second Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD). This is likely to be the last major meeting between India and the outgoing Obama Administration.
During the same days, Defence Minister of India Manohar Parrikar would be in the US for a meeting with his American counterpart, Defence Secretary Ashton Carter. Obama and Modi are likely to meet in China next month on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit.
However, No formal announcement has been made in this connection yet. Earnest said Obama has devoted significant time and resources in strengthening the relationship between the United States and India.
“The President has visited India on two occasions, I believe, and each of those trips has been dedicated to strengthening the political relationship between the world’s two largest democracies but also trying to strengthen further the economic ties between our two countries,” he said in response to a question.
(With PTI inputs)
