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India is a reliable partner for the United States, says Indian Ambassador to U.S. Taranjit Singh Sandhu (Watch Video)
Harshabab Sidhu
Chandigarh, October 17, 2022: How India is approached, understood and analyzed in the U.S. statecraft has witnessed an upward trend. These were the views of Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian Ambassador to the United States.
Speaking at an interactive session organized by the Institute for Development and Communication (IDC) in Chandigarh, Ambassador Sandhu highlighted the growing significance of 'India' in the formal systems in the United States. For instance, whenever there is an Indian on the Board of Directors in a U.S. company, the stock prices suddenly rise.
He further said that India and the Indian American community in the U.S. are seen as value additions, be it government, industry, academia or others.
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"The U.S. has consistently favoured India on different occasions, be it during the India-China clashes at Galwan Valley, where the U.S. Congress unanimously came in support of India, or during the Covid pandemic, all the support extended by it helped India in dealing with the pandemic," he said.
He further stated that today India conducts more defence exercises with the U.S. than any other country. Also, the U.S. sees India as a reliable partner in the Indo-pacific. Ambassador Sandhu also lamented the need to identify prospects in trade, affordable health care, new and renewable energy technologies, energy, education and knowledge partnerships. He argued that India must focus on establishing reliable supply chains to enhance more meaningful Indo-US cooperation. Also, India has huge potential to become a semiconductor giant.
Prof. Pramod Kumar, Director of IDC, raised the issue of nurturing relationships with the U.S. and other global economies by strengthening production, exchange and trade of essential commodities required for basic human existence.
Dr Chandan Awasthi, Deputy Director IDC, later mentioned how Indo-US relations could be strengthened in the present times of geopolitical transition and re-ordering of the world order.
Some participants expressed their concern about growing racial intolerance and hate crimes in the U.S. and how India-US relations have been affected by India's position on the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
Ambassador Sandhu unequivocally mentioned India's commitment to peacebuilding irrespective of China's territorial hegemonic assertions.
Distinguished scholars, media professionals and students participated in the interaction. Some of those present include Prof. B.S. Ghuman, former Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University Patiala, Prof. Harish Puri (Retd.) Professor of Political Science, Prof Ramanjit Johal, Professor of Public Administration Panjab University, Navdeep Asia, Traffic Advisor Punjab.