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Obama praises India in PM talks Obama praises India in PM talks
(about 3 hours later)
President Barack Obama has praised the United States' relationship with India as "one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century".President Barack Obama has praised the United States' relationship with India as "one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century".
Addressing Indian PM Manmohan Singh on the first state visit of his presidency, Mr Obama said Mr Singh was a "fitting leader" for the occasion.Addressing Indian PM Manmohan Singh on the first state visit of his presidency, Mr Obama said Mr Singh was a "fitting leader" for the occasion.
India was "indispensable", said Mr Obama, ahead of talks with Mr Singh.India was "indispensable", said Mr Obama, ahead of talks with Mr Singh.
The two leaders pledged to deepen co-operation in areas from security and climate change to trade and education.The two leaders pledged to deepen co-operation in areas from security and climate change to trade and education.
Mr Singh began his visit to the US on Monday.Mr Singh began his visit to the US on Monday.
He is being received with more pomp and ceremony than any previous foreign visitor to Mr Obama's White House, with a lavish state dinner being held for 320 people. He is being received with more pomp and ceremony than any previous foreign visitor to Mr Obama's White House, with a lavish state dinner for 320 people.
Divergent viewsDivergent views
Ahead of talks with Mr Singh, Mr Obama said the US was ready to work with an increasingly influential India on a number of important issues.Ahead of talks with Mr Singh, Mr Obama said the US was ready to work with an increasingly influential India on a number of important issues.
"Our nations are two global leaders, driven not to dominate other nations, but to build a future of security and prosperity for all nations," he said."Our nations are two global leaders, driven not to dominate other nations, but to build a future of security and prosperity for all nations," he said.
WHITE HOUSE STATE DINNER Food: Potato and egg plant salad, red lentil soup, roasted potato dumplings, green curry prawns Entertainment: Jennifer Hudson and AR Rahman Plates: Bought by Dwight Eisenhower, first US president to visit independent IndiaFlowers: Deep purple, in homage to state bird of India, the peacock Source: APWHITE HOUSE STATE DINNER Food: Potato and egg plant salad, red lentil soup, roasted potato dumplings, green curry prawns Entertainment: Jennifer Hudson and AR Rahman Plates: Bought by Dwight Eisenhower, first US president to visit independent IndiaFlowers: Deep purple, in homage to state bird of India, the peacock Source: AP
After the two leaders met, Mr Obama said he had accepted an invitation to visit India next year.After the two leaders met, Mr Obama said he had accepted an invitation to visit India next year.
He also said he had agreed to work more closely on sharing information between law enforcement and intelligence agencies.He also said he had agreed to work more closely on sharing information between law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
In his toast for the dinner, Mr Obama said: "Tonight under the stars, we celebrate the spirit that will sustain our partnership, the bonds of friendship between our people."
The two countries announced eight memoranda aimed at boosting co-operation in areas including education and green technology, and an annual economic and financial forum to be launched next year.The two countries announced eight memoranda aimed at boosting co-operation in areas including education and green technology, and an annual economic and financial forum to be launched next year.
However, BBC South Asia analyst Anbarasan Ethirajan says the US and India still have divergent views on many issues ranging from bilateral trade and climate change to Pakistan and world trade rules.However, BBC South Asia analyst Anbarasan Ethirajan says the US and India still have divergent views on many issues ranging from bilateral trade and climate change to Pakistan and world trade rules.
For example, India is not ready to accept any legally binding emission cuts while the US is insisting that Delhi agree to commit on the issue, he says.For example, India is not ready to accept any legally binding emission cuts while the US is insisting that Delhi agree to commit on the issue, he says.
Mr Obama's recent trip to Beijing also raised concerns that US-China relations could be strengthened at the expense of India - a fear that observers say Mr Singh's reception at the White House was meant to allay.Mr Obama's recent trip to Beijing also raised concerns that US-China relations could be strengthened at the expense of India - a fear that observers say Mr Singh's reception at the White House was meant to allay.
Nuclear dealNuclear deal
Both leaders claimed progress on climate change.Both leaders claimed progress on climate change.
Mr Obama said he had agreed with Mr Singh and Chinese leaders to reach a "strong operational agreement" on reducing global warming.Mr Obama said he had agreed with Mr Singh and Chinese leaders to reach a "strong operational agreement" on reducing global warming.
We reaffirmed our intention to work to this end bilaterally and with all other countries Manmohan Singh on climate change Obama: "The United States and India can strengthen the global economic recovery"
"It takes us one step closer to a successful outcome in Copenhagen," the president said, referring to a major international climate change conference to be held next month."It takes us one step closer to a successful outcome in Copenhagen," the president said, referring to a major international climate change conference to be held next month.
Mr Singh said the two leaders had "agreed on the need for a substantive and comprehensive outcome which would cover mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology.Mr Singh said the two leaders had "agreed on the need for a substantive and comprehensive outcome which would cover mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology.
"We reaffirmed our intention to work to this end bilaterally and with all other countries," he said."We reaffirmed our intention to work to this end bilaterally and with all other countries," he said.
Mr Obama said he was committed to fully implementing a civilian nuclear deal that gives Delhi access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel in return for inspections of its civilian, but not military, nuclear facilities.Mr Obama said he was committed to fully implementing a civilian nuclear deal that gives Delhi access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel in return for inspections of its civilian, but not military, nuclear facilities.
Ahead of the talks, Mr Singh had expressed his concern about the spread of Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorism to Pakistan's heartlands, and warned against any "premature talks of exit" by Western forces from Afghanistan.Ahead of the talks, Mr Singh had expressed his concern about the spread of Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorism to Pakistan's heartlands, and warned against any "premature talks of exit" by Western forces from Afghanistan.
He urged the Obama administration to put pressure on Pakistan to crack down on militants in the country.He urged the Obama administration to put pressure on Pakistan to crack down on militants in the country.
Mr Obama also said there had been "some progress" on the issue, pointing to Pakistani military operations against the Taliban in the Swat valley and South Waziristan.Mr Obama also said there had been "some progress" on the issue, pointing to Pakistani military operations against the Taliban in the Swat valley and South Waziristan.
The operations indicate "the degree to which they are beginning to recognise that extremism, even if initially directed to the outside, can ultimately also have an adverse impact on their security internally," he said.The operations indicate "the degree to which they are beginning to recognise that extremism, even if initially directed to the outside, can ultimately also have an adverse impact on their security internally," he said.