The foreign secretary highlighted shared values that make the two sides natural partners for forging a stable and prosperous 21st century

As partners in the Quadrilateral group, India and the United States aim to advance the security and economic interests of all countries having a legitimate stake in the Indo-Pacific region, maintaining a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Thursday.

Speaking at a virtual interaction with the US India Strategic Partnership Forum, Shringla said, “India and the US have collectively affirmed the importance of maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, with firm support for ASEAN centrality. Our objective remains advancing the security and economic interests of all countries having a legitimate stake in the Indo-Pacific region.”

The Foreign Secretary highlighted the shared values that make India and the US natural partners for forging a stable, peaceful, and prosperous 21st century, including mutual trust, a shared commitment to democracy, and converging strategic interests.

“It is my firm conviction that India-US ties are only going to get stronger. I am sure all of you present here today share my optimism,” Shringla said.

Maintaining that both sides are together in their fight against the pandemic, Shringla said that India and the US strengthened their resolve in developing vaccines, therapeutics, ventilators, and other essential medical equipment during the third India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue took place last month.

“There was substantive discussion on a coordinated COVID-19 response and efforts towards economic recovery. Both sides strengthened their resolve in developing vaccines, therapeutics, ventilators, and other essential medical equipment and to jointly promote access to a high quality, safe, effective, and affordable COVID-19 vaccine,” he said.

He further noted that both sides also resolved to enhance supply chain resilience and seek alternatives to the current paradigm, which has come under severe strain during the pandemic and exposed critical vulnerabilities.

“Our two countries sought to support the global economic recovery and to emerge from the pandemic more resilient than ever. In this regard, they welcomed efforts to rejuvenate and expand bilateral India-US trade in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

As India assumes membership of the UN Security Council in January next year, Shringla said that India looks forward to working with the United States towards seeking collective solutions to global challenges.