US seeking 'marking achievements' during Obama's India visit

The US, which is preparing for President Barack Obama's visit to India in November, is looking at "marking achievements" in three thematic groups including technology, inclusive growth and defence and security, a top American official has said.

"US aims to forge a partnership with India that will help shape the 21st century. No other country has the humanitarian legacy, thriving democracy, economic promise and sheer human capital that India has," the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia Robert Blake said.

"This is one important reason why President Obama has called India an "indispensable partner" for the US," Blake said in his remarks at the Higher Education Roundtable on September 16, according to the transcripts released by the state department.

Blake said Obama and secretary of state Hillary Clinton elevated the US relations with India by establishing a strategic dialogue last year which convened for the first time in June in Washington.

"The purpose of the Dialogue is to give senior-level strategic direction to the many working groups and dialogues already in progress, and to conceive new initiatives that will further propel our countries towards prosperity," he said.

"As we plan for the president's visit, we're looking at marking achievements in three thematic groups," Blake said.

The first is: technology, innovation, and trade, which you can think of as India's economic rise; second: inclusive growth and mutual prosperity, to help lift millions of Indians out of poverty; and finally defence, security, and our support for India's growing global role and influence, he said.

Education has an important role to play in all these thematic groups, he observed.

"A strong education system in both the United States and India is at the crux of each nation's knowledge-based economy, and will fuel innovation and cooperation for decades to come," he said.

Education will play in ensuring a new generation of Indians have the skills they need to lead India in this new century, Blake said.

"The benefits to both countries of Indo-US collaboration in education are innumerable. Given the recent success of the US-India partnership, I'm confident that our two knowledge societies can continue to find new and innovative ways to provide learning, training, enlightenment, and hope to future generations, be it in Houston or Hyderabad, New York or New Delhi," he said.