India-US share values of democracy, free speech and respect for liberty: US Consul General Kagan

 The relationship between the people of India and the United States of America has put pressure on both governments to improve ties, U S Consul General Edgard Kagan said today.
He was addressing a function of the US Consulate General Mumbai to mark the 242nd anniversary of American Independence.

“The relationship between the peoples of the United States and India is incredibly robust. This is truly our greatest strength—the depth and the breadth of our people-to-people ties.” - #CGKagan during his national day speech in Mumbai tonight. https://t.co/ELzZ9iIQzW pic.twitter.com/EwLTFJacqc

— US Consulate Mumbai (@USAndMumbai) August 3, 2018

"So much of the way the relationship between India and the US is today was started here. It was people in Western India, in Mumbai. People who were committed to trade and education were at the heart of building the relationship we share today," he said.

He added that this relationship keeps growing, unlike many others he had worked on which had been built from the top to down.

A thrilling highlight of every U.S. national day celebration is the presentation of the flag by the U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard. Here’s your front-row view of this year’s ceremony in Mumbai. #USIndiaDosti #InnovateWithUS pic.twitter.com/zNwJ8g2U3I

— US Consulate Mumbai (@USAndMumbai) August 4, 2018

"We had started between governments and then slowly between people. The relationship between India and US was very different. The relationship between governments has always been as it should be, but the relationship between the people of our two countries has put pressure on both governments to improve relations," he said.

Kagan said both countries were increasingly critical partners as the two dealt with some of the world's most challenging problems.
"That's true of our collaboration in the defence and security space. Thats true of our cooperation in the United Nations and other international forums," Kagan said.

"We share not just values of democracy, free speech and respect for liberty and diversity. We also share respect for the idea that freedom for innovation is best for both countries," he said.
He added that Indian entrepreneurs have played a very important part in strengthening ties between the two countries.