PM leaves for the US

New Delhi, Nov 21 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh left for Washington Saturday for talks with President
Barack Obama, saying India attaches "high priority" to its
relations with the US and a "sustained and dynamic"
partnership between them is essential to meet major global
challenges like terrorism, climate change and economic
slowdown.
Singh, who will meet Obama on Tuesday, said India's
relations with the US is today characterized by "greater
maturity, depth and convergence of interests".
In a departure statement, Singh said he looked forward to
building upon this momentum during the nine-day visit that
would also take him to Trinidad and Tobago for the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
"The last several years have witnessed a transformation
in India-US relations", he said.
Singh, the first foreign leader to be hosted as State
Guest by the 10-month-old Obama Administration, has a hectic
schedule during his four-day stay in Washington.
His engagements include addressing the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee and business leaders of the two countries
besides receiving some top US officials.
"A sustained and dynamic India-US partnership is
essential if we are to meet the global challenges of the 21
century", Singh said.
The Prime Minister said he looked forward to exchanging
views with Obama on major global threats and challenges such
as international terrorism, climate change, global economic
slowdown, the Doha Round of trade negotiations and nuclear
disarmament and non-proliferation. (More) PTI