Hillary Clinton, SM Krishna discuss Afghanistan, New Silk Road in third India-US Strategic Dialogue

Washington: Observing that India and US are co-operating in South and East Asia, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday sought India's active role in accomplishing her ambitious goal of the New Silk Road linking South and Central Asia with South East Asia.

"Together, we must continue laying the groundwork for the long-term vision of a New Silk Road that connects markets, businesses and consumers from the Caspian to the Ganges and beyond," Clinton said in her remarks to the opening of the third India-US Strategic Dialogue, which she co-chaired with the External Affairs Minister SM Krishna.

Before the kick-off of the strategic dialogue, the two leaders had a bilateral meeting at the State Department, which lasted for nearly an hour, against the scheduled time of 30 minutes.

Hillary Clinton further said that the 2 countries needed to work together to build a regional architecture that would boost economic growth and settle disputes.

As a result the Strategic Dialogue started nearly half an hour late.

Clinton said US welcomed India's contributions toward building a stable, secure and prosperous Afghanistan, including its more than USD 2 billion in assistance.

"We hope the conference later this month in New Delhi will galvanise more international investment," she said. "Both the United States and India have signed strategic partnership agreements with Afghanistan to demonstrate our enduring commitment, and I hope we can move toward a formal trilateral consultation among our three nations," she said.

"The United States continues to support India's Look East Policy. Both our countries have significant stakes in the future of the dynamic Asia-Pacific region, and we need to expand our work, both bilaterally and through multilateral institutions, such as the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum, to work to build a regional architecture that will boost economic growth, settle disputes peacefully, and uphold universal rights and norms," she said.

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