Against the backdrop of China exerting its influence in South China Sea, US President Barack Obama today said freedom of navigation must be upheld in the Asia Pacific and welcomed a greater role for India in the region.
"United States welcomes a greater role for India in Asia Pacific where the freedom of navigation must be upheld and dispute must be resolved peacefully," he said in his town hall speech attended by a select audience comprising students, scholars and other eminent persons.
Obama also said if the two countries wanted to be "true global partners" they must do more together globally.
"So to ensure international security and peace, multi-lateral institutions created in 20th century must be updated for the 21st. Therefore, I support a reformed United Nations Security Council that includes India as a permanent member," he said.
The US President whose three-day State Visit concludes here today said both the countries can be even closer partners in ensuring mutual security.
Underlining that both nations have known the anguish of terrorism, Obama said, "We stand united in the defence of our people. Now we are deepening our defence cooperation against new challenges".
"We can be even closer partners in ensuring our mutual security. Both our nations have known the anguish of terrorism. We stand united in the defence of our people. Now we are deepening our defence cooperation against the new challenges," he said.
The US President said goal for all of us should be a nuclear weapons free world.
"Even as we acknowledge the world as it is, we must never stop working for the world as it should be. A world without nuclear weapons. That should be a goal for all of us," he said.
