Manmohan Singh a very wise leader: Obama

Washington, May 21 (PTI) Congratulating Manmohan Singh
for his second term as the Prime Minister of India, US
President Barack Obama on Thursday said Singh is a very wise
leader whom he respects and that he look forward to visit New
Delhi at an early date.

Obama said this to the new Indian Ambassador to the
US, Meera Shankar, at his Oval Office in the White House.
Shankar presented her credentials to the US President as the
top Indian diplomat in the US.

During the brief credential ceremony, Obama conveyed
his felicitations on the recent elections in India. He said
that Singh is a very wise leader whom he respects.

Obama said is looking forward to visiting India at an
early date.

Shankar conveyed the greetings from Indian President
Pratibha Patil and the Prime Minister to the US President and
First Lady Michelle Obama.

The envoy said that she was looking forward to
strengthen the strategic partnership between India and the
United States.

Succeeding Ronen Sen, whose term ended on March 31
this year, Shankar arrived in the US on April 26. She was
earlier serving as the Indian Ambassador to Germany. PTI