PM's state visit to showcase strong Indo-US relationship

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Nov 19 (PTI)Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh's visit here as Barack Obama's first state guest is
expected to showcase the significance the US President
attaches to Indo-US relationship, with global issues including
climate and Afghanistan to feature prominently along with
bilateral ties.

Obama will welcome Singh at the White House on Tuesday
morning as the first State Guest of his presidency, in what
senior administration officials have said is no co-incidence
but a conscious decision to send a strong signal on how
critical the relationship is to the United States.
Obama has identified India as a natural ally of the US
and wants to take the Indo-US relationship to a new level.
The US now sees India as an "emerging power" and wants to
work with it on the global front.
"We want very much to strengthen our partnership with
India because we have common interest, we have common values
and we think India's emergence in this manner would only be a
good thing for world affairs," a senior administration
official told PTI.
When the two leaders sit down at the White House next
week, unlike in the past, their discussion would no longer be
confined to bilateral issues, he said.
They are expected to discuss a range of regional and
global issues including Af-Pak, climate, and are also likely
to discuss Obama's recent trip to Asia, particularly China,
besides identifying ways to deepen strategic relationship.
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