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| Obama rolls out red carpet for PM, says India is indispensable | | |
Washington: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday described India as an indispensable player in global politics, saying it was an ideal time for both countries to move forward in the bilateral relationship.
Obama made the remarks as he and First Lady Michelle Obama personally welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur at the White House.
Standing before photographers and television cameras in the East Room, Obama said: "Mr Prime Minister, yours is the first official visit of my presidency and it is fitting that you and India be so recognized."
Citing the two countries' shared history of struggle against imperialism, Obama told Dr Singh: "As the world's largest democracies, we can keep faith with our common values: speaking out and standing up for rights and dignity to which all human beings are entitled."
The US President said India and the US can become partners in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, and can stand together and cooperate in fighting terrorism.
Describing India as a leader in Asia as well as around the world, the US President said “ours is the story of two economic marvels”.
India and the US are two Republics dedicated to ideas of liberty and freedom, he added.
On his part, PM Manmohan Singh thanked the US President for the grand welcome, saying he was “deeply honoured to be in the US on first State Visit of your presidency”.
“India and America are separated by distance but bound by values of democracy, rule of law and respect for human freedom,” Dr Singh said.
“Over the years we have built upon values and created a partnership based on principles and pragmatism,” the PM stated.
"We seek to broaden and deepen our strategic partnership and to work with the United States to meet the challenges of a fast-changing world in this 21st century," he added, pledging to help pursue the goal of "a world free of nuclear weapons".
Talking about his visit, the PM said he was in the US to build upon the successes and strengthen the multi-faced partnership. “This is the moment of great opportunity in our relationship,” he said.
The PM also deeply appreciated Obama’s strong commitment to bilateral relationship.
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