US President Obama’s trip will be historic, says Robert Blake

NEW DELHI - The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, on Friday said that US President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to India would be an historic one.

Speaking to media persons in New Delhi, Blake said that Obama’s visit would result in concrete benefit for both countries.

He said the two democracies should work together to build a new international system of cooperation to counter the threat of weapons of mass destruction.

“This is going to be a very historic trip because President Obama views our relations with India as one of our defining partnerships in the 21st century. The United States and India have made tremendous progress over the last 10 years to build our relations. We now cooperate in virtually every field of human endeavour, and I think now where we are increasingly focussing our efforts, is how the United States and India can work together to build a new international system in which our two democracies can cooperate to counter the threat of weapons of mass destruction,” said Blake.

“Our two democracies can help build democracies in other parts of the world. We can help build economic opportunities not only for people outside the country but of course, for our two countries as well. We can have our two civil societies, sciences, our entrepreneurs, and our business people to develop new innovations that will benefit our people and the people around the world. So, this is a moment of exceptional promise for the United States and for India,” he added.

Blake along with the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and Assistant Secretary of State, William Burns, are leading a delegation to India in advance of Obama’s visit.

Blake further said that the two nations could help build new business and employment prospects.

“We are particularly excited about the economic promise of our relations. We think that a lot of cooperation that we are now undertaking will help to expand markets in both of our countries, will help to expand employment opportunities, will help provide new opportunities for American business,” said Blake.

“It will also help to provide new opportunities to all of India and to make this important relationship relevant for all of India,” he added.

He also said that the United States has been contributing in modernising India’s agricultural sector through cold and supply chains, markets and health opportunities.

Blake and Burns met a wide range of senior Indian officials, including Minister of External Affairs S. M. Krishna and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, as well as civil society and opinion leaders. (ANI)