India,
US to Intensify
Ties in
Tech Trade &
Energy Security
Prime
Minister Manmohan
Singh and President
Barack Obama have
reaffirmed the
global strategic
partnership between
India and the
United States,
and launched a
new phase in this
partnership. Commending
the deepening
bilateral cooperation
between the world's
two largest democracies
across a broad
spectrum of human
endeavors, the
two leaders recognized
that the common
ideals and complementary
strengths of India
and the United
States today provide
a foundation for
addressing the
global challenges
of the 21st century.
In a joint statement
issued at the
end of Prime Minister
Singh's visit
to the United
States in 24 November
2009, the two
leaders noted
that the shared
values cherished
by their peoples
and espoused by
their founders
democracy, pluralism,
tolerance, openness,
and respect for
fundamental freedoms
and human rights
are acquiring
an increasingly
greater prominence
in building a
more peaceful,
prosperous, inclusive,
secure and sustainable
world. These values
are exemplified
by the vibrant
linkages between
their peoples,
which are a unique
asset for both
countries, and
are reflected
in the role played
by the Indian-American
community.
The two leaders
resolved to harness
these shared strengths
and to expand
the US-India global
partnership for
the benefit of
their countries,
for peace, stability
and prosperity
in Asia, and for
the betterment
of the world.
To this end, they
committed to build
upon the India-US
Strategic Dialogue
announced in July
2009. President
Obama stated that
the United States
looks forward
to a stable and
prosperous India
playing an increasingly
important role
in world affairs.
Technology Trade
The two leaders
agreed that strengthening
high technology
trade between
their countries
is in the spirit
of their strategic
dialogue and partnership.
They reiterated
their shared commitment
to technology
security and that
it is in their
mutual interest
to invigorate
this area of their
partnership.
Recognizing that
energy security,
food security,
climate change
are interlinked,
and that eliminating
poverty and ensuring
sustainable development
and a clean energy
future are among
the foremost global
objectives, the
two leaders agreed
to enter into
a Green Partnership
to address these
global challenges.
Climate Change
They two Leaders
reaffirmed their
intention to promote
the full, effective
and sustained
implementation
of the United
Nations Framework
Convention on
Climate Change
(UNFCCC) in accordance
with the Bali
Action Plan. Recognizing
their special
role in promoting
a successful and
substantive outcome
at the UNFCCC
15th Conference
of Parties at
Copenhagen in
December, 2009,
they reaffirmed
their intention
to work together
bilaterally and
with all other
countries for
an agreed outcome
at that meeting.
The two leaders
also affirmed
that the Copenhagen
outcome must be
comprehensive
and cover mitigation,
adaptation, finance
and technology,
and in accordance
with the principle
of common but
differentiated
responsibilities
and respective
capabilities,
it should reflect
emission reduction
targets of developed
countries and
nationally appropriate
mitigation actions
of developing
countries. There
should be full
transparency through
appropriate processes
as to the implementation
of aforesaid mitigation
actions.
The outcome should
further reflect
the need for substantially
scaled-up financial
resources to support
mitigation and
adaptation in
developing countries,
in particular,
for the poorest
and most vulnerable.
It should also
include measures
for promoting
technology development,
dissemination
and transfer and
capacity building,
including consideration
of a center or
a network of centers
to support and
stimulate climate
innovation. India
and the United
States, consistent
with their national
circumstances,
resolved to take
significant national
mitigation actions
that will strengthen
the world's ability
to combat climate
change. They resolved
to stand by these
commitments.
Clean Energy
Recognizing
the need to create
the clean energy
economy of the
21st century,
Prime Minister
Singh and President
Obama agreed to
launch a Clean
Energy and Climate
Change Initiative.
The goal of the
Initiative would
be to improve
the lives of the
people of both
countries by developing
and improving
access to technologies
that make our
energy cleaner,
affordable and
more efficient.
The Initiative
will include cooperation
in wind and solar
energy, second
generation bio-fuels,
unconventional
gas, energy efficiency,
and clean coal
technologies including
carbon capture
and storage. The
success of this
Initiative is
expected to enhance
the ability of
India and the
United States
to provide new
economic opportunities
for their people
and create new
clean energy jobs.
Food Security
The two leaders
intend to take
practical steps
to promote global
food security,
including by advancing
the L'Aquila Food
Security Initiative.
They looked forward
to increasing
India-US agricultural
cooperation with
the purpose of
promoting agricultural
research, human
resources capacity
building, natural
resource management,
agri-business
and food processing,
and collaborative
research for increasing
food productivity.
This cooperation
would contribute
to joint development
of technology
that would improve
weather forecasting,
including predicting
monsoons, and
technology that
would contribute
to food productivity
and food security
efforts in India.
They agreed to
collaborate in
the application
of their space
technology and
related scientific
capabilities in
outer space and
for development
purposes, including
in the field of
agriculture.
The two leaders
reiterated their
intention to realize
the full potential
of the India-US
Agreement for
Cooperation concerning
the Peaceful Uses
of Nuclear Energy
through the implementation
of its provisions.
They agreed to
expedite US firms'
participation
in the implementation
of this agreement.
Global Economic
Revival
Prime Minister
Singh and President
Obama noted the
new opportunities
offered by their
economies and
their respective
strengths, and
their potential
for future growth
to catalyze global
economic growth,
and pledged to
create conditions
that would facilitate
their continued
expansion.
The leaders also
noted that the
United States
is currently the
largest trading
partner of India
in goods and services.
The leaders reiterated
their pledge to
bolster and deepen
cooperation on
economic, trade
and agricultural
issues, including
working bilaterally
and with multilateral
trade organizations
to foster increased
trade. Both leaders
welcomed the potential
for further expanding
trade and investment
between their
countries, including
in sectors such
as infrastructure,
information and
communication
technologies,
healthcare services,
education services,
energy and environmentally
friendly technologies.
As members of
the G 20, they
agreed to advance
the G 20 understandings
including with
regard to energy
security and resisting
protectionism
in all its forms.
The two leaders
agreed to facilitate
greater movement
of professionals,
investors and
business travelers,
students, and
exchange visitors
between our two
countries to enhance
their economic
and technological
partnership.
They committed
to strengthen
and reform the
global economic
and financial
architecture in
the G-20, World
Bank and the IMF.
They resolved
to seek an ambitious
and balanced outcome
of the Doha Round,
consistent with
its mandate and
reaffirmed their
commitment to
an open, fair,
equitable, transparent
and rule-based
multilateral trading
system.
Trade & Investment
The two leaders
announced their
intention to develop
a Framework for
Cooperation on
Trade and Investment.
This Framework
is expected to
foster an environment
conducive to technological
innovation and
collaboration,
promote inclusive
growth and job
creation, and
support opportunities
for increased
trade and investment
- including for
small and medium-sized
enterprises. They
agreed to launch
the US-India Financial
and Economic Partnership
to strengthen
engagement on
economic, financial,
and investment-related
issues.
The two leaders
welcomed the progress
achieved in the
discussions on
a Bilateral Investment
Treaty and pledged
to take further
initiatives that
would contribute
to creating a
more conducive
environment for
investment flows.
They recognized
the contribution
of the business
and industrial
sectors of both
countries in this
regard and called
upon the India-US
CEOs Forum to
identify new directions
in the India-US
economic relationship.
Recognizing the
cultural emphasis
on education in
both countries,
Prime Minister
Singh and President
Obama emphasized
that education
holds the key
to the advancement
of their societies,
and to a more
prosperous and
stable world.
They agreed that
access to and
development of
technology was
a cross-cutting
requirement to
meet the challenges
that their two
countries face.
They acknowledged
the fruitful collaboration
between the two
countries in the
fields of education,
research and science
and technology,
which has contributed
to their emergence
as knowledge societies.
Taking advantage
of that strength,
President Obama
and Prime Minister
Singh launched
the Obama-Singh
21st Century Knowledge
Initiative with
funding from both
sides to increase
university linkages
and junior faculty
development exchanges
between US and
Indian universities,
including greater
emphasis on community
colleges.
They agreed to
substantially
expand the Fulbright-Nehru
program to provide
more student and
scholar exchange
grants in priority
fields such as
science, technology
and agriculture.
The two leaders
reaffirmed the
importance of
expanding cooperation
in higher education
and research,
and according
priority to cooperation
in the area of
skill development.
They also expressed
their support
for the India-US
Binational Science
and Technology
Commission and
the Endowment,
which is expected
to give a fresh
impetus to collaboration
in the cutting
edge areas of
scientific research,
technology and
development.
The leaders affirmed
the importance
of women's empowerment
to advancing global
prosperity and
stability, and
welcomed the establishment
of a Women's Empowerment
Dialogue to promote
women's participation
and equality in
all spheres. They
emphasized that
women's empowerment
is a cross-cutting
goal that should
be pursued across
the full scope
of US-India Strategic
Dialogue initiatives.
Public Health
Prime Minister
Singh and President
Obama welcomed
the strong collaboration
between India
and the United
States in the
area of public
health. They agreed
to build on existing
strong ties across
academia and scientific
communities by
advancing public
health and biomedical
research collaborations
between the United
States and India.
The two countries
plan to establish
a Regional Global
Disease Detection
Center in India
and to build a
partnership with
the US Centers
for Disease Control
and Prevention.
The leaders also
pledged to enhance
collaboration
in controlling
diseases such
as polio, and
discovering new
and affordable
technologies and
treatments for
the benefit of
their peoples
and for those
of other countries
who seek their
assistance.
Prime Minister
Singh and President
Obama recognized
that the India-US
relationship is
important for
managing the challenges
the world will
face in the 21st
century.
The two leaders
underscored the
compelling need
to put in place
global institutions
which are both
inclusive and
effective to meet
present and future
challenges. They
welcomed the emergence
of the G-20 as
a premier forum
to deal with international
economic issues.
The two leaders
recognized the
scope for their
countries to increase
cooperation in
peacekeeping,
development and
the promotion
of essential human
freedoms. They
committed themselves
to achieving genuine
reform of the
United Nations
including in its
Security Council
in a manner that
reflects the contemporary
realities of the
21st century and
thereby enhances
its ability to
carry out its
mandate as a representative,
credible and effective
forum for meeting
the challenges
of the new century.
