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WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday hailed India as an "indispensable" partner as he pledged to work on a range of once thorny issues with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a high-profile state visit.
Obama rolled out the red carpet for Singh for the first full-fledged state visit of his White House, to climax in a swank black-tie dinner set to be one of Washington's most elite social occasions since his January 20 inauguration.
Obama, who had caused unease in India with his early focus on neighbours China and Pakistan, assured that the world's largest democracy was a true partner on his top priorities from counter-terrorism to climate change.
"The United States welcomes and encourages India's leadership role in helping to shape the rise of a stable, peaceful and prosperous Asia," Obama said, flanked by Singh.
"Today our nations are two global leaders, driven not to dominate other nations, but to build a future of security and prosperity for all nations," Obama said. "As we work to build that future, India is indispensable."
Obama accepted an invitation to visit India next year and his administration signed eight memoranda with India aiming to solidify growing cooperation.
One 10 million-dollar initiative named after Obama and Singh would support university linkages; India is already the top source of foreign students in the United States.
Other projects would work to boost food security and support research on green technology, with two dozen cities across the United States and India to test new systems on solar technology.
Climate change has been one of the few points of discord between India and the United States, with each side pressing the other to make further commitments ahead of next month's high-stakes Copenhagen summit.
But Obama, who is expected to make an announcement in coming days on a target for US cuts in carbon emissions, said he agreed with Singh and Chinese leaders to reach a "strong operational agreement" on reducing global warming.
"It takes us one step closer to a successful outcome in Copenhagen," Obama said.
With a cold drizzle covering Washington, the White House called off an elaborate welcome on the South Lawn, with Singh instead settling for a quick, off-camera cannon salute as he entered the executive mansion.
Obama escorted Singh along a red carpet into the chandelier-filled East Room alongside the two nations' top brass including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who clasped her hands together in a traditional Indian "namaste" greeting.
While the menu and guest list for the dinner were kept under wraps, people involved in the planning said the chef would be celebrated New York-based, Ethiopian-born Marcus Samuelsson who is renowned for crossing cultures with his cuisine.
The entertainment for the night may reportedly feature two Oscar-winners - Jennifer Hudson, the singer and actress from "Dreamgirls," and A.R. Rahman, the composer of music for "Slumdog Millionaire."
In a sign of the common touch that Obama has tried to project since entering the White House, he invited two dozen children from a local school to wave Indian and US flags at the welcoming ceremony.
The pageantry comes one week after Obama paid his maiden visit to China, where he faced criticism at home for a lack of concrete achievements, with state television not even broadcasting his sole public forum.
India, by contrast, has transformed in a matter of years in US eyes. After decades of mutual unease during the Cold War, ties with the United States have been rapidly warming and enjoy strong support across party lines.
Former president George W. Bush signed a landmark accord with Singh to allow cooperation on civilian nuclear technology, ending New Delhi's long pariah status for declaring itself a nuclear weapons state.
Obama is a strong advocate of nuclear disarmament and many Indians doubt he would have reached the same agreement. But Obama pledged to go ahead with the deal and Singh appeared satisfied.
"I am confident and I have the assurance that that process can be completed without much further loss of time," Singh said. - AFP/de
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