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The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, made the following remarks at the arrival ceremony at the White House, Washington, today before holding summit meeting with President Bush of the United States of America:
“Mr. President, Thank you very much for your warm words of welcome. I greatly value this invitation to visit Washington and I look forward to my discussions with you this morning.
I am confident that my visit today will give us an opportunity to develop and take forward the strategic partnership between India and the United States. We share a common commitment to democracy, freedom, human rights, pluralism and rule of law. We face common challenges that threaten our way of life and the values that both our countries hold dear. We share a common resolve and a common responsibility to meet those challenges. Mr. President, there is vast potential for our countries to work together on an ambitious agenda of cooperation bilaterally and with regard to what we can do together to address the global challenges. Mr. President, your personal commitment to our relations is widely appreciated in India. I am confident that from our talks today will emerge an agenda of cooperation that reflects a real transformation of our relationship. Its realisation would help India meet the expectations of its people for a better quality of life, a more secured future and a greater ability to participate in global creativity. I also believe that working together, our two countries can make a significant contribution to global peace, security and development.
Let me conclude Mr. President by thanking you and the first lady Mrs. Laura Bush once again for the warmth of your welcome. I thank you Mr. President.”
YSR/DS/LV/RK
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