Senator Cory Anthony Booker joins Senate India Caucus

WASHINGTON: Senator Cory Anthony Booker has joined the Senate's powerful India Caucus, the only country specific caucus in the US Senate.

Booker, the first African-American to represent New Jersey, was welcomed by co-chair of the caucus Senator Mark Warner of Virginia.

"I welcome Senator Booker into our caucus and look forward to working with him to promote the unique relationship between the world's oldest and largest democracies," Warner said.

"Strengthening our relationship with India makes smart strategic sense for our nation, and good economic sense for Virginia and New Jersey," he said.

Booker expressed hope that the bipartisan effort of the caucus would further bolster Indo-US ties.

"I am honored to join this bipartisan caucus to strengthen our relationship between the United States, the world's oldest democracy, and India, the world's largest democracy," Booker said.

"New Jersey's Indian American community is such an important part of our state's rich diversity and I am eager to join Senators Warner, (John) Cornyn and all of my colleagues in the caucus to capture the mutual benefit from continuing to invest in this strong partnership," he added.

Texas senator Cornyn is the Republican co-founder and co-Chair of the caucus.