Congratulating India ahead of its 63rd Independence Day, the United States Senate has passed a resolution committing itself to foster and advance the strategic partnership between the two largest democracies of the world.
Lauding the contributions of Americans of Indian descent to the US society, the Senate resolved that it remains committed to foster and advance the strategic partnership between America and India in the future.
Noting that India is the largest democracy, and one of the largest and most dynamic economies in the world, the resolution said in recent years, both the countries have pursued a strategic partnership based on common interests and shared commitments to freedom, democracy, pluralism, human rights, and the rule of law.
The resolution in this regard was introduced by Senator John Cornyn and co-sponsored by Senator Christopher Dodd.
US President Barack Obama referred to the relationship between the United States and India as "one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century" at the first state dinner hosted by him in honour of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2009, the resolution said.
The US and India have undertaken a cooperative effort in the area of civilian nuclear power, which the Congress approved through the enactment of the US-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Non-Proliferation Enhancement Act.
The strong relationship between the US and India is based on mutual trust and respect, enables close collaboration across a broad spectrum of strategic interests, including counter-terrorism, democracy promotion, regional economic development, human rights, and scientific research, it said.
The Senate resolution also acknowledged that since 2001, Indians have comprised the largest foreign student population on college campuses in the US, accounting for approximately 15 per cent of all foreign students in the country.
Noting that there are more than 2,000,000 Americans of Indian descent in the United States; it acknowledged the lasting contributions to the social and economic fabric of the US made by the Indian Americans.
"Americans of Indian descent continue to enrich all sectors of public life in the United States, including as government, military, and law enforcement officials working to uphold the Constitution of the United States and to protect all people in the United States," it said.
