India is important strategic partner, says US

New Delhi: Describing India as an "important strategic partner", the US today said it was encouraging its companies to set up manufacturing units in India with transfer of technology.

This was stated by US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter when he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister said the two Summit meetings between him and US President Barack Obama over the past year have provided new energy and momentum to the bilateral relations, a PMO statement said. Modi expressed satisfaction at the implementation of the decisions taken during these Summit meetings.

He expressed the hope that the US companies, including those in defence manufacturing sector, would actively participate in the 'Make-in-India' initiative and set up manufacturing units in India with transfer of technology and link to the global supply chain.

Carter said the US authorities were committed to the expeditious implementation of the decisions reached between the two top leaders. In this context, he said the US was encouraging its companies to set up manufacturing units in India with transfer of technology, the statement said.

Carter said India was an "important strategic partner" for the US and that its policy of having a rebalance in Asia Pacific complimented India's Act East Policy, it said.

Both sides also exchanged views on regional issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, and the recent developments in the Indian Ocean and the Asia Pacific region.