Shri Jamshyd N. Godrej, Chairman, Ananta Centre and Chairman & MD, Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited,
Shri Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’ Ambassador to the United States
Ms Patricia Lacina, Chargé d’affaires, Embassy of the United States in India
Ms Kiran Pasricha, Chief Executive Officer, Ananta Centre
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am delighted to welcome you to the 5th edition of the India-U.S. Forum.
2. Since its inception, the Forum has emerged as an important platform for policy makers, business community and thought leaders from India and the US to help shape the agenda and direction of the India-US strategic relationship. I have always valued my interactions with the members of the India-US Forum.
3. It bears reiterating that the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between India and the US is firmly anchored in a shared commitment to democratic values and common strategic interests. With a strong foundation for bilateral ties; growing strategic convergence; and strong support in the US and India for the relationship, we are confident of implementing the forward-looking roadmap laid down by our leaders for the India-US partnership.
4. The growing convergence in our strategic perspectives can in large part be attributed to the natural affinity between our people. The people-to-people connections reflect our complementary strengths in the domains of knowledge, talent, education and innovation.
5. I am sure that all of you present here today share my optimism and confidence in the India-US partnership for the future.
6. Since the Forum met last year, the two countries have been in regular contact to deepen bilateral engagement and work together on contemporary regional and global issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Our dialogue and engagement across sectors, including trade and investment, healthcare, critical technologies, climate action, clean energy, defence and security, education and innovation, has been positive and constructive.
7. Leaders from both countries have intensified the momentum of engagement and displayed their intent to widen the scope of the bilateral partnership to include collaboration on global issues of shared interest.
8. This was most evident during Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to the US for his first formal interaction with President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris; and the first in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit. The visit not only provided the leaders an opportunity to have an in-depth conversation on bilateral matters but also involved substantive discussions on global and regional issues, ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change to terrorism and the situation in Afghanistan.
9. The Prime Minister and President Biden later met on the sidelines of the G20 and COP26 Summits to deliberate, announce and endorse important initiatives aimed at global economic recovery, climate action and sustainable development.
10. All of us would agree that, today, strong India-US ties contribute not just to our respective domestic transformations, but also towards ensuring a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and global peace and stability.
11. The Indo-Pacific is an important aspect of our growing convergence. As vibrant and pluralistic democracies with shared values, India and the US share the vision of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where there is respect for international law; freedom of navigation; territorial integrity and sovereignty; and peaceful settlement of disputes.
12. This vision also brings together the Quad – which is committed to advancing the security and economic interests of all countries having legitimate and vital interests in the Indo-Pacific region. The Quad has indeed come of age, and is focussed on a positive agenda aimed at the well-being of the people of the Indo-Pacific region.
13. Over the next two days, different sessions in the India-US Forum will involve deliberations on these areas. I look forward to listening to the views of distinguished panelists on these issues, which are of great importance to our countries.
14. Before I end my remarks, I would like to commend the Ananta Centre for its efforts in advancing the India-US strategic partnership. I also congratulate the Centre for convening this important Forum.
Thank you.