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The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has congratulated President Bush on his re-election as President of the United States of America. In a letter to the US President, the Prime Minister said:
“It gives me great pleasure to extend warmest congratulations on your re-election as President of the United States of America. My good wishes as well as those of the Government and people of India are with you as prepare to lead your great nation, drawing on a strong mandate, in the years ahead.
I recall our discussion in New York in September focussed on the overriding priority of making the future more secure. The globe war against terrorism and efforts to combat WMD proliferation will benefit enormously from your steadfast resolve and leadership. As partners against terrorism and WMD proliferation, we will stand by the United States in strengthening international peace and stability.
In our own neighbourhood, we welcome the successful holding of Presidential Elections in Afghanistan, which is in consonance with the vital interests of both our countries. We all have a stake in the early return of Iraq to the international mainstream as a democratic country. India is ready to contribute to the electoral process early next year.
One major goal of our policies must be to continue to deny any comfort or encouragement to religious extremism or terrorism, and resolve to ensure their complete elimination as an acceptable instrument of State policy. We are confident that the United States and India are on the same side in this effort.
Mr. President, during your first term in Office, our bilateral relations underwent a qualitative transformation, due in no small measure to your personal commitment and efforts. As India’s integration with the global economy grows we need to chart out an economic road map that would be an integral element of our broader relationship. We must embark on a larger and a more ambitious agenda for broader strategic cooperation, high technology, commerce and defence hold a particular promise in this regard. We look forward to moving ahead expeditiously through the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership. Our shared vision and common values provide an enduring base for our relations, India and the United States together and in partnership based on trust and mutual confidence, can make a positive difference on issues of global significance in this century.
I look forward to working with you as we re-dedicate ourselves to further strengthen the progress that we have made in the last few years. A visit by you, Mr. President, to India would be a milestone in our relations. I hope that we will have the opportunity to welcome you in India very soon.”
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