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American Center hosts lecture on India-U.S. relationship in Kolkata

India Blooms News Service | | Aug 08, 2015, at 05:41 am

#American Center # lecture # India-U.S. relationship #n Kolkata

Kolkata, Aug 7 (IBNS): The U.S. Consulate General, Kolkata hosted a lecture on, 'Strategic Aspects of India-U.S. FDI: Opportunities for Partnership' in association with Bharat Chamber of Commerce on Friday.

The lecture was delivered by Raymond E. Vickery, Jr., Senior Director of the Albright Stonebridge Group LLC, who has been a leading Advisor concerning India-U.S. relations. Also present at the event was, Andrew Posner, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate, Kolkata.

Sharing his insight on the relationship between the two countries, Raymond E. Vickery, Jr. said,"Today the U.S.-India relations have never been on as higher plane as they are now. The reason being our own values are aligned.So India and U.S., in terms of democracy, go way back."

But the interests of both the nations have not always been similar. Vickery Jr. said, "There was a sense of estrangement that characterised the relationship, even though we had common values, in terms of democracy. We were not in any sense natural partners or allies".

But over the years the relationship has undergone a metamorphosis. The Indian-American community became very vibrant in the United States, in terms of business and professions and political life.

Vickery Jr. added, "We should glory in the association between the two countries. Also economic engagement has been a driving force in bringing United States and India closer. And if we are going to move to the next level, it will be economic engagement that plays a foremost role".

Echoing similar words was Sajjan Bhajanka, President, Bharat Chamber of Commerce, who said, "U.S.-India bilateral relationship has developed into a global strategic partnership based on increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues."

Raymond E. Vickery, Jr. has served three terms in the Virginia legislative assembly and as an advisor on India in campaigns of then Senator Obama, Vice President Gore and Senator Kerry.

(Reporting by Soumi Paul Chowdhury)

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