Thaindian News

Chennai, July 20 (IANS) With the strategic dialogue bringing out divergent perceptions on some aspects of the civilian nuclear deal and Afghanistan, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Wednesday underlined that her country’s bonds with India “outweigh differences” and promised to build more trust in the growing relationship.

“We will build trust and do more to bring us together. We are betting on India’s future… we have watched the progress of India with great admiration,” Clinton, the first US secretary of state to visit Chennai, told students at the Anna Centenary Library here.

Amplifying on New Delhi’s growing global role, Clinton stressed that that the history of 21st century will be written in India and Asia.

“President Obama made a state visit last year, and I made two visits in the last two years, why one may ask? It is because we understand that much of the history of 21st century will be written in Asia,” she said.

“We have great commitment… as the president told the Indian parliament, the relationship between India and the US will be a defining relationship,” Clinton added.

“There are those who raise questions about the relationship between our two countries. I understand that we are countries of different history and there will be differences, as between two friends…(however) our differences are outweighed by the bonds,” she added.

Clinton’s remarks come a day after India and the US concluded their second strategic dialogue that brought out differing perceptions on some issues like the civilian nuclear deal and the strategy for stabilising Afghanistan.

In New Delhi, Clinton Tuesday had reiterated the US’ commitment to the nuclear deal, but asked New Delhi to ratify the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damages and to bring its civil nuclear liability in line with the norms laid down by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).