Thank you Mr President, thank you very much for your warm words of welcome. I greatly value this invitation to visit Washington and I look forward to my discussion with you this morning. I am confident that my visit today will give us an opportunity to develop and take forward this strategic partnership between India and the United States. We share a common commitment to democracy, freedom, human rights, pluralism, and rule of law. We face common challenges that threaten our way of life and values that both our countries hold dear. We share a common resolve and a common responsibility to meet those challenges.

Mr President, there's vast potential between our two countries. To work together on ambitious agenda of cooperation, bilaterally, and with regard with what we can do together to address the global challenges. Mr President, your personal commitment to our relations is widely appreciated in India and I am confident from my talks today will emerge an agenda of cooperation that reflects the real transformation of our relationship. Its realization would help India meet the expectations of its people for a better quality of life, a more secure future, and a greater ability to participate in global creativity. I also believe that working together, our two countries can make a significant contribution to global peace, security and development.

Let me conclude, Mr President, by thanking you and the First Lady, Mrs Laura Bush, once again on the warmth of your welcome. I thank you Mr President.

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