New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday congratulated US President Barack Obama on his re-election and personally committed to a “rewarding” association to build further on the global strategic partnership the two nations have built over the last four years, and for world peace and progress.
The prime minister, in a message, said the mandate for Obama to lead the US for four more years gave him a historic opportunity to continue to work for both the American people and for global peace and progress at “an admittedly difficult juncture” for the US and the world at large.
“It gives me great pleasure to convey to you my warmest congratulations on your re-election as the president of the US,” he said in the message.
“Your mandate gives you a historic opportunity to continue to work for the welfare of the American people as also for global peace and progress at an admittedly difficult juncture, not just for the US, but indeed for the world at large,” Manmohan Singh said.
The prime minister said: “The renewed confidence that the people of your great country have reposed in you is as much a tribute to your qualities of head and heart as it is an indication of the faith that the American people have in your leadership.”
He said over the last four years, consistent with the vision of a global strategic partnership between India and the US, the ties between the two democracies have seen sustained growth.
“We have not only advanced cooperation across the full spectrum of our bilateral relationship, but also deepened our engagement in the pursuit of global peace, stability and prosperity,” the prime minister said.
Expressing his “personally valued” friendship with Obama, Manmohan Singh said he looked forward to continuing the rewarding association in order to build further on the enduring foundations of the shared values and the accomplishments of the past four years.
“I have no doubt that there is much more we can do together to further strengthen the India-US partnership and thereby advance peace and stability, expand mutual economic opportunities, harness the potential of science and technology, innovation and higher education, and empower our people to address global challenges,” he added.
Manmohan Singh said his wife Gurcharan Kaur joined him in wishing Obama and Michelle, as well as their daughters Malia and Sasha, “good health, success and happiness as you prepare for a new term in office.”
Meanwhile, industry group FICCI yesterday said Indo-US business and economic ties will find continuity following his re-election but the “single most important point” for India Inc is Obama’s concern on outsourcing.
“I think the India-US strategic relationship and business and economic ties will definitely find continuity here in his re-election,” Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) president R V Kanoria said here.
In his presidential poll campaign, Obama had criticised outsourcing of jobs to countries like India, saying that the US needs to create jobs locally.
“The only area of concern is with regard to his stand on outsourcing. I firmly believe that this is a misplaced fear that outsourcing to India will result in a job loss in the US. There are enough studies to proof that it is quite otherwise,” Kanoria said.
“On every other aspects that the US wants to invest in India, in terms of the US wanting to develop a strategic relationship with India, in terms of US supporting India in international bodies and in regional initiatives to build a more peaceful region around India and its neighbours, the US has a very, very positive view,” Kanoria said.
He added that Obama’s view on outsourcing was the single most important point as far as the Indian industry was concerned.
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