India and the United States concluded their first cabinet-level strategic dialogue on Thursday, pledging to deepen ties between the world's oldest and largest democracies for mutual benefit and global stability, while committing to work to strengthen global legal regimes against terrorism.
"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna pledged to deepen people-to-people, business-to-business, and government-to-government linkages between the world's oldest and largest democracies, for the mutual benefit of both countries and for the promotion of global peace, stability, economic growth and prosperity. Both recalled that the Indo-US partnership rests on the firm foundation of common ideals as well as security and economic interests," a joint statement issued after the conclusion of the talks said.
"The guiding principles upon which both nations were founded -- democracy, mutual respect, individual liberty, rule of law, and an appreciation for the strength we derive from being pluralistic societies -- make the Indo-US bond strong, resilient, and uniquely important for building a peaceful, prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable world," it said.
"They pledged that as strategic partners, India and US would continue to consult each other closely on regional and global developments, and remain sensitive to each other's interests. They confirmed that global institutions of governance should reflect contemporary realities and enhance effectiveness, in order to meet the challenges of the new century," the statement said.
"In addition to advancing global security and stability, both recognised that the two countries had enormous opportunities to deepen their cooperation in trade and investment, science and technology, infrastructure investment, environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation, energy security, education, agriculture, food security, healthcare and empowerment of people," it said.
The two leaders emphasised that the Strategic Dialogue and its detailed architecture is a vital instrument to pursue these goals, the statement said. The Strategic Dialogue was co-chaired by Clinton and Krishna.
"Minister Krishna and Secretary Clinton reiterated their shared goal of advancing security and stability across Asia, in particular, through the emergence of an open, balanced and inclusive architecture of cooperation in the region," the statement said.
Reiterating their shared interest and commitment to a stable, sovereign, democratic and pluralistic Afghanistan, Krishna and Clinton emphasised the importance of a sustained international commitment to Afghanistan that builds local capacities through Afghan-led initiatives.
The two leaders expressed grave concern over recent incidents in the US and India that reminded the world that terrorism and violent extremism know no boundaries and continue to threaten global, regional, and domestic security.
Recognising the importance of continued cooperation in efforts to defeat terrorism, they reaffirmed the critical principle that no cause or grievance justifies terrorism in any form.
"They called for swift and credible steps to eliminate terrorist safe havens and vowed to strengthen global consensus and legal regimes against terrorism, including by working together at the UN toward adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that strengthens our efforts in combating terrorism," the statement said.
"Secretary Clinton and Minister Krishna expressed their shared view that the Indo-US Strategic Dialogue and the bilateral mechanisms therein provide an important platform for strengthening the US-India partnership, offering a strategic vision for enhanced future cooperation," the statement said.
"The US and Indian delegations look forward to further discussions on specific matters raised at the dialogue through expanded high-level official engagement, working groups, and existing bilateral dialogues," it said.
Acknowledging the positive contribution of cooperation in education and science and technology to bilateral relations, the joint statement said, "They noted the enormous potential for enhancing academic exchanges and collaboration, including through participation of US universities in India, in the context of the ongoing reforms and expansion of the higher education and professional training sectors in India.
"Clinton welcomed India's announcement of establishing a Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership with focus on advanced nuclear energy systems, nuclear security, radiological safety and applications of radio isotopes and radiation technologies and appreciated India's intent to welcome participation by international partner countries and International Atomic Energy Agency in the work of the Centre.
"They also committed to continue working together to achieve an early start of negotiations on a multilateral, non-discriminatory and internationally and effectively verifiable Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty at the Conference on Disarmament," the statement said.
According to the joint statement, they called for a balanced and ambitious conclusion to the Doha Development Round, consistent with its mandate.
As members of the G20, they agreed to advance the G20 understandings including with regard to energy security and resisting protectionism in all its forms.
Krishna and Clinton noted that both governments have taken steps to strengthen their bilateral engagement and understanding in three broad areas -- macroeconomic policy, financial sector, and infrastructure financing -- through the launch of a new Economic and Financial Partnership' between India's Ministry of Finance and the Department of the Treasury in April 2010.
"The partnership is intended to help both countries to promote strong, sustainable, and balanced growth, as well as share experiences on infrastructure financing and financial sector regulation," it said.
Noting that US and India have taken crucial steps towards full implementation of civil nuclear cooperation, the two leaders reiterated that nuclear energy can make a significant contribution to building a sustainable and clean energy future. They highlighted the Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation Action Plan recently signed by the two countries.
"They resolved to continue to look for innovative ways to work together to promote agricultural development and reduce rural poverty, promote global food security, and improve weather prediction and crop forecasting capabilities for agricultural purposes in order to improve livelihoods in the rural sectors. They also pledged to work together to improve the farm to market supply chain, food processing, and agricultural extension programmes," the joint statement said.
Reviewing the progress on the collaborative effort to establish a Regional Global Disease Detection Centre in India, Krishna and Clinton acknowledged that the Health Dialogue would provide a framework to discuss ways to accelerate bilateral cooperation and collaborations, including exchanging views on extending affordable healthcare to all sections of the population and to continuing education and training for health care practitioners at all levels of service.
"Both governments pledged to enhance bilateral collaboration in controlling and preventing diseases, assuring food and medical product safety, and increasing biomedical and translational research and development with the goal of identifying new and effective methods of medical treatment and ensuring equitable access of such outcomes to the citizens of both the countries," it said.
