The third annual session of the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue to be hosted by the State Department will be held on Wednesday in Washington D.C.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Minister of External Affairs S.M. Krishna will co-chair interagency delegations to discuss a broad range of bilateral issues. They are expected to discuss on regional issues including Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The agendas to be discussed at the session include bilateral and regional economic engagement, public health, innovation, regional security and defense, agriculture, and women empowerment. High-level officials from both governments will discuss issues of common concern and examine ways to leverage our broad people-to-people partnership for improving the quality of life for our respective citizens.
Secretary State Clinton and External Affairs Minister Krishna will give brief remarks at the State Department in the morning and then host a joint press conference.
S.M. Krishna arrived U.S. on Monday and he's accompanied by Minister for Science and Technology Vilasrao Deshmukh, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Prime Minister's Public Information Infrastructure and Innovation Advisor Sam Pitroda, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai, Secretary for Higher Education Ashok Thakur and other officials.
The Strategic Dialogue is the reflecting the breadth and depth of the strong partnership between the world's oldest and the world's largest democracies. The bond between the two countries seems to be getting stronger.
U.S. defence secretary Leon Panetta visited India last week, clearly sending out the message that Washington eyes New Delhi as a potential strategic partner. He met defence minister A K Antony and national security advisor Shivshankar and discussed on defence ties, situation in Afghanistan and China's increasing economic and military power. They also struck a few significant military deals including purchase of some sophisticated weapons.
The countries discussed on China's military spending and its behaviour in South China Sea.
