Salman Khurshid would be valued partner: US

WASHINGTON: Newly appointed External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid would be a "valued partner" for India-US relationship, a top American official said today, adding Secretary of State Hillary Clinton looks forward to work with him in the coming days.

"We've had an especially productive relationship with Minister Khurshid in his prior service at the Ministry of External Affairs, as well as other positions within the government of India," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters at his daily news conference.

"We believe he will be a valued partner in carrying forward the strategic dialogue that Secretary Clinton has co-chaired and in building what President Obama has called a defining partnership with India," he said in response to a question about India's new External Affairs Minister.

"His (Khurshid's) experience and his expertise in the business community around business issues are also important to our bilateral relationship and are particularly welcome," Toner said, adding Clinton had a very good relationship with Khurshid's predecessor S M Krishna.

"Certainly Secretary Clinton enjoyed a very productive, constructive relationship with Minister Krishna, and she looks forward to working closely now with Minister Khurshid," Toner said.