US keen on deepening ties with India

CUTTACK: The US is keen to improve and strengthen bilateral ties with India, moving beyond the realms of trade, commerce and strategic partnerships to establish people-to-people relationships between both the countries, US Consul General Katherine Dhanani said here on Wednesday. The USA sees a natural partner in India, more than China, by virtue of both the countries sharing commonalities of democracy, diversity, trade and economy. It is now attempting to take the bonds to the people’s level between regions, she said while addressing a lecture on “Indo-US Relations: issues and challenges“ at Ravenshaw University here. Katherine is leading a delegation of US Consulate General, Hyderabad, to Orissa and is meeting various sections of society ranging from students, trade and commerce bodies, NGOs, cultural to social organisations in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar and Puri. At Ravenshaw University as Katherine delivered the lecture, the students were also able to talk to accompanying Visa officers on procedures for obtaining visas for studies there. Representatives of the US India Education Foundation also counselled students on how to choose right colleges in the US as well as the educational opportunities there.  Katherine said the focus areas are not only Science and Technology, IT, Education but also food security, finance, defence and maritime security. She also emphasised on improvement of bilateral ties between India and China along with stability in Pakistan.