Douglas G Kelly, director of the Kolkata-based American Center, has said that the United States was optimistic about an amicable settlement to the border dispute between India and China.
Speaking at a press meet on Friday, Kelly said the coming together of three powerful neighbours -- India, China and Russia -- would pose no threat to the US as the cold war era had ended.
"It is a matter of relief for the US that there has been no tension along the India-China border since the 1962 war, which is a good sign for the South East Asian region," he said.
He claimed that the US, in its self-interest, would like to see India grow stronger to counter-balance China.
When asked to specify whom America would prefer to side with, Kelly said, "Obviously, majority of Americans respect the deep-rooted democratic set up in India in comparison to the Communist rule in China."
Dwelling on the growing Indo-US relations in the post-Cold War era, the director said the vast Indian market, along with its software manpower, was welcomed by US companies who had been urging for increased cooperation.
He also hoped for larger concentration of software companies in Eastern and Northeast region, adding that the American companies had to come to grips with the reality of isolation facing the northeast, which perhaps explained very little investment in the region.
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