Thaindian News

By Arun Kumar
New York, Sep 28 (IANS) India has conveyed its concerns to the US on issues like H-1B visa fee hike, export control restrictions and the outsourcing ban, but is keen not to let the spats overshadow President Barack Obama’s visit to India.

“…the sum of the relationship is greater than its parts and what we have is growing strategic dialogue and growing partnership between the two countries,” Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters Monday after a meeting here between External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and his counterpart Hillary Clinton here.

“Our concerns have been raised and we have spoken our views about the risks inherent in protectionist trends that often detract from the positive impulses of cooperation in trade and economic interaction between the two countries,” said Rao, who was also present during the 30-minute meeting to lay the groundwork for the Obama visit.

“The sentiment was understood by the US side. They were agreeable to the fact that we need to discuss these issues and try and resolve them,” she said.

Although a host of other issues, including the Nuclear Liability Bill, terrorism and export controls figured in the talks, the “focus of today’s discussion was on the visit and preparations for the milestone event by the president”, Rao said and both Clinton and Krishna expressed satisfaction on the state of preparation.

On the Nuclear Liability Bill, which the US side considers an “important priority”, Krishna “told Clinton about the parliamentary process that we have in India and its importance”.

Krishna also “conveyed to Clinton the importance of building of consensus in India. I think the US understands that process and (the contentious) nature of our democracy that we often celebrate in India”, Rao said.

The Kashmir issue did not come up at the meeting even as they talked about eradicating terrorism from Afghanistan and strengthening forces of democracy within Pakistan, she said.

“Overall, it was a very warm and focused meeting between Krishna and Clinton,” she said.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)