Meera Shankar given warm send off in the US

India's outgoing ambassador to the United States, Meera Shankar, was showered with praises as the US administration gave her a warm send off, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lauding her role in strengthening the partnership between the two countries.

Shankar presided over as India's envoy in the US during a period when the bilateral relations were going through historic transformation.

"On behalf of the American people and the Obama Administration, I extend my best wishes to you as your celebrated tenure as the ambassador of India comes to an end," Clinton told her when she met the Ambassador last week.

In fact, the last week of Shankar's tenure was packed with a number of receptions hosted in her honour.

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"I thank you for your service and remain deeply grateful to you for helping to strengthen the important partnership between our two countries," Clinton said at a State Department reception hosted in her honour.

Later, at a reception hosted by Shankar at her residence, Deputy Energy Secretary Daniel Poneman said Shankar was one of the most effective and influential diplomats.

"She was well-prepared, eloquent, at the same time reasonable as she pursued her country's interests," he said.

Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs, Robert Hormats, said Shankar had pursued the challenging task of representing India in the US, reaching out not only to the government, but also the Congress, the business community, think tanks and the media.

"She travelled extensively across the United States and projected India even to those who had very little knowledge of the country and its achievements, in a very clear, positive and convincing manner," he said.

Shankar was also presented with a US flag in recognition of her achievements, along with a certificate sent by Congressman Ed Royce, the co-chair of the India Caucus in the House of Representatives.

In her remarks, Shankar recalled the very successful visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the US in November 2009 and President Obama's visit to India in November 2010 and outlined the growth of the relationship between the two countries.

The Indian community of the Greater Washington Area too hosted a reception for the ambassador where Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Bureau highlighted the immense contribution made by her in serving India's interests in Washington.