Fact Sheet: US-India Strategic Partnership
The White House, President George W. Bush
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 2, 2006
Fact Sheet: United States and India: Strategic Partnership
"We have an ambitious agenda with India. Our agenda is practical. It builds on a relationship that has never been better. India is a global leader, as well as a good friend. ... My trip will remind everybody about the strengthening of an important strategic partnership. We’ll work together in practical ways to promote a hopeful future for citizens in both our nations."
— President George W. Bush, February 22, 2006
CIVIL NUCLEAR COOPERATION: The United States and India have reached
an historic agreement on civil nuclear cooperation. The agreement
addresses India’s surging energy needs for its growing economy. This
will also ease the burden on other countries as the world’s energy needs
continue to rise.
– The U.S. and India have agreed to pursue civil nuclear cooperation
to allow India to cooperate and trade in this key area.
– India has agreed to take steps that will bring it into the
international non-proliferation mainstream, including placing its
civilian nuclear facilities and programs under IAEA safeguards and
adhering to the guidelines of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the
Missile Technology Control Regime.
The U.S.-India strategic partnership is rooted in shared values and is
broad in nature and scope, with our two countries working together on
global issues, including expanding economic freedom and democracy;
ensuring plentiful sources of clean, safe, and reliable energy;
protecting security; supporting innovation and technological advances;
and promoting public health.
ECONOMY: The United States and India are expanding cooperation to
enhance job creation and economic growth; support economic reform and
liberalization; develop a bilateral business climate supportive of trade
and investment; and improve market access for goods and services.
– Trade: Over the last five years, U.S. exports to India have more
than doubled, helping to create better-paying jobs in the United
States. The United States and India agree that trade is essential
to promoting global economic growth, development, freedom, and
prosperity. Both countries are committed to completing the WTO
Doha Development Agenda before the end of 2006.
– Investment: The United States and India welcomed the report of
the U.S.-India CEO Forum and agreed to work on its recommendations
through the Economic Dialogue; endorsed the efforts of the
U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum to reduce barriers to trade and
investment; agreed to hold a high-level public-private investment
summit in 2006; and are continuing the dialogue on various issues,
including further liberalization of investment restrictions,
regulatory transparency, dispute settlement, and reducing tariff
and non-tariff barriers to trade.
– Agriculture: The United States and India have launched the
Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture to link universities,
technical institutions, and businesses to support high-priority
joint agriculture education, research, and capacity-building
projects including biotechnology.
DEMOCRACY: Building on their common values and interests, the United
States and India affirmed their joint commitment to promote freedom and
democracy and assist countries in transition. Effective democracies with
governments accountable to the people are the best means of ensuring
long-term stability and prosperity.
– The United States and India will work together to support the
growth and development of vibrant civil societies, including
independent media and non-governmental organizations, in countries
that seek such assistance.
ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT: The United States and India are working
together to help meet India’s rising demand for energy by looking at new
technologies to produce clean, safe, and reliable energy.
– FutureGen: India will join the FutureGen international
partnership which will work to create a zero-emissions coal-fired
power plant, enabling greater use of coal in an environmentally
sustainable way.
– International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER): India
has joined the United States, Russia, the European Union, Japan,
the Republic of Korea, and China as an ITER member.
– Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate: The
United States and India, together with Australia, China, Japan,
and the Republic of Korea, will work on practical ways to improve
energy security, improve air quality, and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions in ways that foster economic growth.
SECURITY: The United States and India are building the foundation of
a durable defense relationship that will continue to support our common
strategic and security interests.
– Maritime Security Cooperation: The United States and India are
committed to a comprehensive cooperative effort to ensure a secure
maritime domain.
– Counterterrorism: The United States and India are jointly
expanding the scope of our counterterrorism cooperation, including
work on bioterrorism and cybersecurity.
– Military Logistics Support: The United States and India will
soon sign an agreement to facilitate mutual logistic support
during combined training, exercises, and disaster relief operations.
– Defense Trade: The United States reaffirmed its goal to help
meet India’s defense needs and to provide the important
technologies and capabilities that India seeks.
– Non-proliferation: Both countries support efforts to limit the
spread of enrichment and reprocessing technologies and also
support the conclusion of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.
INNOVATIVE AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES: The United States and India are
working together to support the creation of innovative, dynamic,
knowledge-based economies.
– Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): The United States is funding
IPR training programs to strengthen enforcement and patent
examination, as a vibrant IPR regime is critical to the promotion
of a creative, technologically advanced economy.
– Science: The United States and India established and co-fund the
$30 million Bi-National Science and Technology Commission to
generate collaborative partnerships in science and technology.
– Space: The United States and India have agreed to continue
exploring further cooperation in civil space, including areas such
as space exploration, satellite navigation, and earth science. In
addition, agreements are being completed that will allow for the
launch of U.S. satellites and satellites containing U.S.
components by Indian launch vehicles.
PUBLIC HEALTH: The United States and India are cooperating to expand
efforts to combat and prevent Avian Influenza and HIV/AIDS.
– Avian Influenza: The United States and India agreed to expand
bilateral efforts on avian influenza by, among other things,
reaching out to the private sector, developing regional
communications strategies, and planning an in-region containment
and response exercise. India will host the International
Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza meeting in 2007.
– HIV/AIDS: Last July, President Bush and Prime Minister Singh
agreed to further strengthen cooperation on HIV/AIDS by leveraging
resources, knowledge, and expertise. Since then:
- • The United States increased funding in FY2006 for HIV/AIDS
prevention, care, and treatment programs to $29.3 million. - • We have established an Indo-U.S. Corporate Sector Fund for
HIV/AIDS, which is a partnership among U.S. and Indian
businesses to fight AIDS. Six companies have already pledged
a total of $1.2 million to the Fund. - • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given approval to
13 generic antiretroviral drugs produced by Indian
pharmaceutical companies. These drugs can now be purchased
as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS for
use around the world.
