The US is betting big on India's future, and the bilateral relationship between the two countries “would be a defining partnership of the 21st century”, said the US Secretary of State, Ms Hillary Clinton.
Addressing a gathering, that included students, opinion makers and a few local celebrities, at Anna Centenary Library in Chennai, she said, “We are betting on India's future. We are betting that India's vibrant pluralistic society will inspire others to follow a similar path of tolerance. We are making this bet not out of blind faith but because we have watched your progress with great admiration.”
Talking about the Indo-US relationship, she said though it is true that the two countries are different with different backgrounds, and will from time to time disagree with each other, “we believe our differences are far outweighed by the bonding”.
Pointing out that both the countries are committed to fighting terror, she said the two countries should work together to fight piracy and for maritime security too.
“We have a great commitment to government-to-government relation and a greater commitment to people-to-people relationship,” she said.
Lauding India's democracy and its growing leadership in the world, Ms Clinton said India and the US could more productively engage in complex global issues and support democratic transitions in Middle East and North Africa.
Beginning her speech with the Tamil greeting “Vanakkam” , Ms Clinton said India's future and opening of its markets to the world would bring more prosperity to India and to the entire South Asia.
On the Sri Lankan Tamil issue, she said every citizen of the island nation deserves equal opportunity.