"India shares many of our values, including a commitment to human rights and democratic government."
The global influence of the Asia-Pacific region is on the rise, and growing. Much of the history of the 21st century will be written in Asia, and its lasting effect will profoundly influence the rest of the world, including the United States. One of the key leaders in Asia Pacific is India, a rising power that will contribute to regional balance.
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India's Rising Profile
Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake called India “one of our most trusted and valuable partners in the region, and really the foundation upon which greater regional economic cooperation and expansion will be built. Our relationship, from our burgeoning trade, to defense sales and exercises, to our growing education and clean energy partnerships, has never been stronger.”
Over the past two decades, India’s gross domestic product has increased ten-fold. Today, the country boasts a $2 trillion economy, which is projected to be the world’s third largest by 2025.
Nonetheless, such growth is only possible if India has the infrastructure required to sustain it, and current estimates suggest that 80 percent of these networks have yet to be built, said Assistant Secretary Blake.
“We see an enormous opportunity in this growth to deepen our commercial partnership with India, working together with American companies to build the airports, power plants, water and sanitation systems, and fiber optic networks of India’s future.”
“India shares many of our values, including a commitment to human rights and democratic government and adherence to the international system of norms and rules, including freedom of navigation and access to resources in accordance with principles of international law,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Joseph Yun.
“India shares the U.S. values of open societies. With its young and dynamic population, India presents an opportunity to sustain economic expansion in Asia,” he added.
“Our commitment to the Asia-Pacific region is strong and irreversible, and we support and welcome the involvement of India.”