“I'll never forget my first visit to India nearly 20 years ago on a United States Senate Congressional trade delegation. The dynamism I saw then continues today. India is a country on the move,” Kerry said.
“Beneath all the changes - and what really binds our nations and our peoples together -is our shared commitment to a strong and vibrant democratic heritage,” he said.
“India's transition to democratic independence and emergence on the world stage was one of the great success stories of the 20th century. Today, it is an inspiration for so many young democracies,” Kerry added.
Indian diplomat Khobragade was arrested on December 12 on visa fraud charges, strip-searched and held with criminals, triggering a row between the two countries with India retaliating by downgrading privileges of certain category of US diplomats among other steps.
The Energy Dialogue - initially scheduled for earlier this month - was cancelled amidst tension between the two nations.
