Cheney hails India at business summit, says US committed to nuclear deal

This was for the first time that a US vice president was addressing a USIBC meet, which many observers say signifies the growing importance of the economic relationship between the two countries. Referring to the jumbo Indo-US caucus at Capitol Hill, Cheney said its leadership constituted of both Republicans and Democrats and there was no reason why the nuclear agreement, which is an important foreign policy initiative of the Bush Administration, will not go through.

Praising India and its strong emerging economy, Dick Cheney said the country was very important for US industry—not only in terms of its large and growing middle class but also for its huge skilled manpower. Moving one step ahead of what President Bush calls a natural relationship between the two countries, Cheney was full of praise for India’s strong and deep rooted democratic values, and exprseed optimism that India would soon be able to solve its problems with its neighbours.

The vice president was presented with the USIBC’s Distinguished Service Award for Exemplary Leadership in uniting the US and India—the two great democracies in the 21st century.

David M Cote, chairman and CEO of Honeywell International, and Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Group were also felicitated with USIBC’s 31st Anniversary Leadership Awards at the day long function.

Bush-Manmohan to meet at G-8 summit

Washington: In their first direct interaction after firming up the Indo-US nuclear deal, President George W Bush will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh next month in Russia at the G-8 summit in St Petersburg, according to US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns.—PTI