Obama likely to visit India in 2010

India will have a visit from the US president Barack Obama this year, a top official of the administration has said.
Addressing the Chicago Council on Global Affairs on Friday, Feb 19, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, said that inviting Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh to US was its wayf oshowing the importance it attaches to India.


"President Obama has further underscored the importance of India to the United States by promising to make a reciprocal visit to India, most likely later this year," he said, without announcing the date of his likely visit.
He said that US considers India to be an indispensable partner of the country and share common ideals which would help in strengthening not only the relationship but also the international community.
The United States and India share common ideals and complementary strengths reflected in our very close people-to-people contacts, our shared embrace of democratic principles and our willingness to work together on issues that matter not only to us, but to the global community," Blake said.

Blake said that the Indo-US was directed towards the progress of the entire world.