On a visit to India as part of a bi-partisan Congressional delegation, a US Senator today said that India is a natural ally of the United States and the two countries need to further strengthen their relationship.
"As a dynamic democracy in the heart of Asia, India is a natural ally of the United States," Senator John Hoeven said in a statement.
The Congressional delegation is being led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
"It makes sense for both the United States and North Dakota to maintain a dialogue and expand commercial relations with India. This enormous nation is emerging as a great economic power, and it's in our interest to work together for our mutual benefit," said the Senator from North Dakota.
Congressional delegation met Defence Minister AK Antony, National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and other high-ranking Indian security officials.
The Senator said that the two countries are the world's largest democracies, with representative governments and commitments to basic civil liberties.
India is also strategically situated in Central Asia and borders both Pakistan and China.
The United States and India share a common interest in a stable and peaceful Asia and the free flow of commerce and resources in that part of the world, he said.
India is already engaged in the Afghan mission, contributing $1.5 billion in aid to help Afghanistan build infrastructure.
Hoeven and the Indian security officials discussed ways to further work together in Afghanistan, as well as ways to address the growing level of Islamic extremism and terrorism in Pakistan.
According to Hoeven, the United States and India now conduct joint military exercises, and there is more the two countries can do together to build a strategic relationship.
"With an average economic growth rate of about 9% and 1.2 billion people, the country's growing consumer base represents an enormous market for American and North Dakotan goods and services. Creating a better environment for mutual trade could generate real business opportunities and jobs for American workers," Hoeven said.
He discussed ways to enhance trade ties between North Dakota and India with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma, as well as a group of high-level Indian business leaders.
They spoke at a meeting hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry, an organisation similar to the US Chamber of Commerce, which works to promote India's economic development.
The Senator proposed organising a trade delegation between CII and the North Dakota Trade Office to partner North Dakota and Indian companies.
