The Hindu : International / India & World : Bush hailed for strong ties with India

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Wednesday, Sep 01, 2004

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International - India & World

Bush hailed for strong ties with India

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, AUG. 31. The Grand Old Party has hailed the transformation of the relationship between India and the United States and has give credit for this to the leadership of the President, George W. Bush. The Republican Party convention now under way in New York stressed that through a "strong partnership" with India "we can best address any differences and shape a dynamic future."

The party expectedly focussed on national security issues, including the different facets of the war on terrorism as well as America's diplomatic posturing in the international system and in various regions. "Under President Bush's leadership, the U.S. has undertaken an historic transformation in its bilateral relationship with India based upon his conviction that U.S. interests require a strong relationship between the world's largest democracies," it said in its reference to India.

"Since 2001 the U.S. has started with a view of India as a growing world power with which we have common security interests and a shared, fundamental commitment to political freedom and representative government. Through a strong partnership with India we can best address any differences and shape a dynamic future," the Republicans said.

Strategic partnership

"The prospects for that partnership were further enhanced by the announcement this January of the `Next Steps in Strategic Partnership' between the U.S. and India, a new effort to further deepen and accelerate cooperation between our two nations."

The Republicans applauded India's move toward "greater" economic freedom saying the U.S. had a "common interest in the free flow of commerce." The party pointed out that bilateral trade between India and the U.S. increased from about $16 billions in 2002 to about $18 billions in 2003.

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