Stressing on competitiveness and a level-playing field, US President George W Bush has said that during his visit to India in March he will drive home the importance of "fair dealing" in the two countries' expanding trade ties.
"I'm going to India at the end of this month, and I'm going to make it clear with the Indians that we look forward to trading with you, but just treat us the way we treat you; that's all we ask. The reason I say that is because we can compete with anybody, anytime, anywhere, so long as the rules are fair", Bush told an audience in Ohio.
Ohio was Bush's latest stop in a series of visits to promote his American Competitiveness Initative, which he announced in his State of the Union address in January.
The proposal would expand basic scientific research in order to maintain US lead in technological development. Bush also talked about uncertainty in the context of people in America changing jobs given the uncertainty in the economy, another theme he has touched on in recent weeks.
"People see China and India out there looming as competitors and the reaction with some is, let's don't compete, let's just kind of shut her down, let's get protectionist, or, why don't we isolate? I have a different point of view. My attitude is, we shouldn't fear the future, we ought to shape the future. My attitude is, the United States of America must continue to be the leader in the world economy, for the good of our people", he said.
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