The United States wants India and Burma to share a good relationship for furthering their economic interests, a top Obama Administration official has said.

“We want a good relationship between Burma and India and Burma and its other Asian interlocutors. It sits at an important crossroads. It will continue to play a vital role,” Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell said in his address to a Washington-based think tank.

Campbell’s remarks came a day after a top State Department official said India and the US need to look for economic partnership with Burma.

“The development of trade and transit links between Southeast and East Asia has been hindered for decades by poor regional infrastructure connectivity, isolation of the Burmese Government, and political mistrust between India and its neighbours,” Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and Environment Robert Hormats had said in his address to the India Investment Forum in New York on Monday.

“However, Burma’s recent political and economic reforms along with continuing efforts by India and Bangladesh to improve bilateral relations have generated new opportunities to promote US and Indian business interests and regional economic development.

Given the vast potential, we should look to partner in this emerging region,” Hormats said.

Responding to a question in his appearance before the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Campbell said US supports a good relationship between China and Burma.

“In almost all of our engagements, with the Government, with the Opposition, there is a very strong view, a view which we support, that Burma-Myanmar wants and needs a good relationship with China.

They want an equitable, strong relationship on commercial grounds, they want to be respected and engaged appropriately politically and to work closely in diplomatic channels.

And I think we support that, and we think that is in the best interests of both countries,” Campbell said.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW