Thaindian News

By Arun Kumar
Washington, May 22 (IANS) Asserting that India and the US share “defining interests” and that the US-India relationship has never been more promising, the State Department announced that the inaugural US-India Strategic Dialogue will take place here June 1-4.

“India and the United States share defining interests and common values,” department spokesman Phillip Crowley said Friday announcing the dates. “The US-India relationship has never been more promising,” he added.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Minister of External Affairs S.M. Krishna will co-chair high-level inter-agency discussions at the State Department June 3, he said.

“Secretary Clinton looks forward to welcoming Minister Krishna to Washington.”

Senior delegations from across both governments will come together to discuss a range of issues critical to our shared future, including agriculture, energy, education, trade, and counter-terrorism.

The delegations will also hold in-depth discussions on global and regional issues. Separate bilateral meetings, including between cabinet members and Indian ministers, will take place on the margins of the dialogue, Crowley said.

Under Secretary of State Bill Burns is leaving for India Saturday for a range of meetings with senior Indian officials to make preparations for the upcoming Strategic Dialogue.

Burns will also travel to Afghanistan.

US Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, Philip Verveer is also leading an inter-agency delegation to the fifth World Telecommunication Development Conference in Hyderabad from May 23 to June 4.

The US delegation will have representatives from Departments of State, the Federal Communications Commission, Department of Homeland Security and National Telecommunications Information Administration.

The conference is held under the auspices of the International Telecommunications Union.