Key US Congressional committee to hold hearing to review ties with India

WASHINGTON: Ahead of the India-US Strategic Dialogue, a key Congressional committee will hold a hearing on India to review bilateral ties and prospects for expanding cooperation with the new Indian government.

"This hearing will be an opportunity for Congress to examine the future of the US-India relationship under the new Modi government, and discuss prospects for expanding cooperation in the economic, security, nuclear energy, and maritime arenas," Congressman Steve Chabot, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, House Foreign Relations Committee, said.

"Following India's historic national election in May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received the incredible dual mandate of generating greater economic growth and making the bureaucracy accountable to the people," he said.

"The prospect of this domestic reawakening presents a significant opportunity to revitalise America's relationship with India. India is one of the United States' most important partners in South Asia, and cooperation with India is vital for achieving America's political, economic, and security interests throughout Asia," Chabot said.

Chabot would chair the Congressional hearing on India on July 25.

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal; and Arun Kumar, Director General of the US and Foreign Commercial Service and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets, International Trade Administration, have been invited to testify before the committee.

Secretary of State John Kerry will visit India to hold Indo-US Strategic Dialogue with his Indian counterpart Swaraj on July 31.