JOIN USA joint statement issued at the end of US President Barack Obama’s visit said the United States welcomed India’s leadership in expanding prosperity and security across the region. It also recognised the global role India is set to play.
The statement said Obama and Prime Minister Mamohan Singh agreed to deepen existing regular strategic consultations on developments in East Asia, and decided to expand and intensify their strategic consultations to cover regional and global issues of mutual interest, including Central and West Asia.
In an apparent widening of India’s role in Afghanistan, the statement said the two sides are committed to intensifying consultation, cooperation and coordination to promote a stable, democratic, prosperous, and independent Afghanistan. In addition to their own independent assistance programmes in Afghanistan, the two sides resolved to pursue joint development projects with the Afghan Government in capacity building, agriculture and women’s empowerment.
The two governments resolved to further strengthen defence cooperation, including through security dialogue, exercises, and promoting trade and collaboration in defence equipment and technology.
Obama welcomed India’s decision to purchase US high-technology defence items, which reflects the strengthening of bilateral defence relations and aimed at creating jobs in the United States. To intensify defence cooperation, India agreed to purchase US high-tech defence items which in turn contribute to creating jobs in the US.
The two countries said the US would support India’s full membership of multi-lateral export control groupings like the Missile Technology Control Regime, Nuclear Suppliers Group, Australia Group and Wassenaar Arrangement.
The two countries would jointly start enhanced monsoon forecasting from next season to help Indian farmers; agree on steps to reduce trade barriers and protectionist measures and encourage research and innovation to create jobs and work together to launch a second green revolution—Evergreen Resolution—in India. They will jointly convene a higher education summit in 2011.
The statement added that Prime Minister Singh and President Obama concluded that “their meeting is a historic milestone as they seek to elevate the India-US strategic partnership to a new level for the benefit of their nations and the entire mankind.”