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Calling Indo-China and the US and China relations as “complicated” and “comprehensive”, US Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, on Wednesday said strong ties between India and the USA was “in the interest of the world”.
“India and China, and the US and China (relations) both are very complicated and comprehensive. There are elements of competition and cooperation in our relationships. We have our economic interests, but when we have security concerns or human rights concerns we raise them,” he said while taking questions following his speech at the ‘Building Pan Asian Connectivity’ seminar.
The two-day seminar is organised by the Indiana University in association with US Consulate, Kolkata.
“A strong Indo-US relationship is in the interest of the region and the world and it is not directed to any other country, particularly not directed at China,” the Ambassador said.
Growing Interest of the World
According to him, a growing Indian economy was in the interest of the world and the US was collaborating with the country on several fronts, including infrastructure development.
“US can’t be the only engine that pulls the global economy out of the death bed it has been in the past 10 years. So, the more the Indian economy does better, the more this region grows, that’s good for the US, the Europe and the world.,” Verma said.
Collaboration on infrastructure development also included development in different areas such as sanitation, cities, airports and railways.
“We are working closely with the Government and are identifying opportunities for American companies here where they can participate,” the envoy pointed out
Negligible intra regional commerce
Pointing out the negligible South Asia intra-regional commerce, Verma said this (South Asia trade) comprised only 5 per cent of total global trade.
According to him, India traded mostly with the US, Europe and the Middle East than with its immediate South Asian neighbors. Overcoming this economic anomaly was one of the challenges that needs to be taken up.
“Addressing this economic anomaly will involve overcoming some challenges, but if we do it will also create enormous opportunities for the region that has been called the least connected region on earth,” he added.
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