New Delhi [India], October 6 (ANI): US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on Wednesday said that the US and India will compete with China as it threatens rules-based international order. “We will compete with China where we should, cooperate with China where it’s in our interests. We will challenge China where we must — where it undermines interests of ours and our partners and allies or threatens rules-based international order,” Sherman said as China has been increasing its rising military power and assertiveness in the Indo Pacific region. “I think we (US) and India are like-minded in that regard,” added Sherman at India Ideas Summit.
Underscoring the importance of the bilateral partnership, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman had reiterated that the ties between India and United States is rooted in shared values of the two countries and both are believers in the free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific region. “The partnership between India and United States is rooted in our shared values. We are both homes to innovators and entrepreneurs. We are both believers in the free, open, interconnected and resilient Indo-Pacific region,” Sherman had said during a meeting with Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla here.
“And we both know that the best way to preserve peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world is by upholding and strengthing the rules-based international order,” she added.
The two countries are also strengthening cooperation in advanced military technologies, and expanding engagements in a multilateral framework including with regional partners.
She also applauded India’s decision to resume COVID-19 vaccine exports from October. “We applaud India’s decision to resume vaccine exports. It was really a country that the world depended on. India had come to everybody’s rescue early on and hopefully, we all came to India’s rescue to help them,” said US Deputy Secretary of State. .
India-US relationship of paramount importance to ensure free, open Indo-Pacific, says Shringla
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Wednesday said that India considers its relationship with the US to be of paramount importance not only for the two countries but also for ensuring a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
Speaking at the US-India Business Council (USIBC) India Ideas Summit, he said there is every reason to believe that the bilateral relationship will only attain greater heights in years to come and the two countries are poised to move forward exponentially in many areas identified together.
“India considers its relationship with the US to be of paramount importance, not only for our respective nations but also in ensuring a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, and a peaceful and prosperous world,” Shringla said.
“There is every reason to believe that India-US relationship will only attain greater heights in years to come. Today, we are in a strong position and poised to move forward exponentially in many of the areas that we have identified together,” he added.
Referring to Afghanistan, Shringla said that both US and India will work together to ensure peace, security, and stability in South Asia and beyond. “Face-paced in South Asia especially in Afghanistan will keep us engaged. We have a keen desire to ensure that we both work together to ensure peace, security, and stability in South Asia and beyond,” he said.
The two-day 2021 India Ideas Summit began on Wednesday. (ANI)
