India-Caucus a pillar of support for India-US ties: Ambassador Arun Singh

WASHINGTON: The India-Caucus, the largest country specific caucus in the US House of Representatives, is a pillar of support for relationship between the two countries and is well poised to play an important role in strengthening India-US ties, India's top diplomat to the US has said.

"As the largest single country specific Caucus in the Congress, House India-Caucus is our pillar of support," Indian Ambassador to the US Arun K Singh said in his remarks at a rare Congressional reception hosted in his honour jointly by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the India-Caucus.

Powerful and influential American lawmakers, including Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ed Royce and its Ranking Member Eliot Engel along with the two Co-Chairs of the Caucus Ami Bera and George Holding, attended and addressed the reception during which they praised Singh's contribution in strengthening India-US ties.

Singh was the Deputy Ambassador here for four years before he headed to lead the Indian mission in France.

"America is great democracy and an immigrant society. And India is the world's largest democracy. We are also currently among the fastest growing economies," Singh said.

"Our common values and shared interest are strengthened by the contributions of people from both our countries. In this, the Indian-American community plays a vital role by bringing us closer and shaping our discourse and deepening our understanding," Singh said.

In his remarks, he noted the important contributions made by the Caucus to bring the people and governments of the two countries closer, and described the bipartisan support for India-US relations in the US Congress as a source of strength for the India-US strategic partnership that now spans almost all dimensions of human endeavor.

In their welcome remarks, Congressmen Royce and Engel spoke warmly of Singh's contribution in promoting India-US relations.

Welcoming Singh back to Washington, Royce reiterated his commitment to promoting India-US ties.

Engel described India and US as 'natural partners' with common strategic and geo-political outlook.

Holding called the India-US relationship as the founding relationship of 21st century and advocated strengthening bilateral economic ties. Bera called the relationship 'non partisan' and recognised that the diaspora brings vibrancy to the bilateral ties.