[ARABNEWS] US Secretary of State John F. I was in Vietnam, you knowKerry
Former Senator-for-Life from Massachussetts, self-defined war hero, speaker of French, owner of a
lucky hat,conqueror of Cambodia, and current Secretary of State...
flew into India on Wednesday for ice-breaking talks with new Prime Minister Narendra Modi, forecasting a transformation in Washington's troubled relations with New Delhi.
| Oooohh, computer talk! So much more modern and high tech than a reset button. |
The top diplomat's trip is intended to pave the way for a visit by Modi to the US later this year, nearly a decade after he was denied a visa over deadly anti-Moslem riots in the state where he was chief minister.
For the past two decades, the world's two largest democracies have described themselves as natural allies, sharing similar concerns over China's rise and militancy.
But incidents including the US arrest of an Indian diplomat last year sent ties plunging to their lowest point in years, and analysts say Modi's previous treatment as a pariah still rankles.
And a new row is brewing over a customs deal, despite efforts to emphasize areas where the two sides can make common cause.
In a joint editorial with US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker in Wednesday's Economic Times, Kerry said Modi's strong mandate opened up possibilities for cooperation on issues from boosting trade to energy.
"The long-standing partnership between the US and India is on the cusp of an historic transformation," said the commentary in the Delhi-based daily.
"Working together, the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy can forge a new era of shared prosperity and security for hundreds of millions of people in India, across Asia and the world."
The US officials will hold talks with Indian officials on Thursday and Kerry will meet Modi on Friday.
For some observers, Kerry's three-day trip is in itself a sign of India's importance. He has focused much of his tenure on crises in the Middle East, and returned just Sunday from a gruelling, unsuccessful mission to end the Gazoo conflict.