July 22, 2013
"Our two nations are striving to make progress and this relationship plays a really important role in that, as it should," Joe Biden said.
July 22, 2013
"Our two nations are striving to make progress and this relationship plays a really important role in that, as it should," Joe Biden said.
American Vice-President Joseph Biden arrives in India today, on a four-day trip that covers a wide range of bilateral issues, regional concerns – and shared possibilities. In an exclusive interview, Vice-President Biden talked about some of the topics leading his agenda, including America's interest in India's economy, the US-India civil nuclear deal, India's 'Look East' policy and its role in Afghanistan.
Vice-President Biden also addressed Indian concerns about work visas to the US, China's role in this region and America's view of Pakistan – and the Taliban:
Please tell us about your visit to India?
I'm really looking forward to this visit. It's my first to India as vice-president . The last time i came here was about five years ago, when i was still in the Senate. Since then, the bilateral relationship has grown even stronger and the range of projects and areas on which we cooperate is wide and deep.
Our two nations are striving to make progress and this relationship plays a really important role in that, as it should. The message that I'll carry to India – both in my official meetings with the president, vice-president and prime minister, and in my conversations with Indian society – is that our two countries must continue to aspire to the promise of prosperity and security, and that delivering on that promise is something we can do together, through our bilateral cooperation.
I also look forward to talking about these issues in the context of the broader Asia-Pacific region – we see India's 'Look East' policy as an important element in regional cooperation, one that serves our common interests and values, and i have some ideas about strengthening our cooperation in the region that i plan to share.
Regarding regional dynamics, do you see both China and the Taliban becoming more significant players here?
India, China and the United States are all important players in the Asia-Pacific region. We all have important voices and the responsibility to strive for peace, cooperation and prosperity. Our countries should work together to advance our common economic and security interests. China shares borders and interests with South and Central Asia – it has a real stake in regional cooperation.
Regarding the Taliban's future role, we have been clear that if the Taliban are to have any role in Afghanistan's political future, they will need to break ties with al-Qaida , stop supporting violence and accept the Afghan Constitution as part of the outcomes of any negotiated peace settlement.
Our goal is for Afghans to be talking to Afghans about how they can move forward, end the violence and start rebuilding their country. As President Obama has said, our partnership with Afghanistan will continue – as will our shared goal to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida and ensure that Afghanistan can never again become a safe haven for terrorists.
How would you see US-Pakistan ties evolving, especially considering concerns on both sides, over drone attacks and over dynamics with extremist groups?
We are encouraged by Pakistan's recent elections, which marked the first time a civilian government has completed its term and transferred power democratically to another civilian government.
Our two countries have many areas of common interest and the US looks forward to working with the government of Pakistan on a shared agenda – that includes countering terrorism, holding accountable those responsible for terrorist attacks, supporting Pakistan's economic growth and maintaining close consultations on a range of regional issues, including a secure and peaceful future for Afghanistan.
As Prime Minister Sharif has said, we will seek to expand our areas of convergence and narrow areas of divergence.
Which aspects of the US-India relationship are most significant to America – and how do you see ties developing, with America's exit from Afghanistan approaching?
The United States and India cooperate on a wide range of economic, security and regional issues. India's rise as a global economic power is one of the most powerful stories of the 21st century. The United States has welcomed India's emergence and both nations have profited from it – annual trade is five times larger than it was in 2000, on track for $100 billion this year.
But we all understand that we can do more to grow together. For example, we can look at ways to meet India's energy demand, both by cooperating on clean energy research and civil nuclear power.
Our security and counterterrorism cooperation is vitally important, not only to the security of our citizens and our economies, but to our global stability. The United States was proud that the Indian Air Force was able to use C-130 J aircraft manufactured in the United States to provide relief supplies to the victims of flooding in Uttarakhand last month. And we've joined with India and other countries to counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden. India has also long been one of the world's largest providers of United Nations peacekeepers.
When it comes down to it, our countries share the same democratic values and we have a tremendous capability to work together in the region and around the globe. That's what we've done – and it's what we'll continue to do.
On the region, with a dynamic economy and a market of 1.2 billion, India is the economic hub of South Asia and plays a significant role in helping to integrate the region. We strongly support the role India has played in Afghanistan, leveraging its economic strength to improve Afghanistan's economy – for example, India has provided more than $2 billion in development assistance, and billions more in private sector investment in projects that will help to ensure our common goal of a stable and prosperous future for the Afghan people.
How would you regard the concerns of Indians about proposed curbs on the immigration of skilled professionals for work to the USA?
The Senate Bill under discussion has provisions that could benefit Indian workers seeking employment in the US. For example, the Bill would nearly triple the number of H-1 B visas for skilled workers – since almost 60% of H-1 B holders are from India, we anticipate that the expansion of this programme will certainly benefit many skilled Indian workers.
In fact, because the Senate Bill would so dramatically increase the ceiling on H-1 Bs, many more Indian university graduates will be able to work on a temporary basis in the US, gaining new skills that they will bring back to India.
A wider question – what will be some of the most significant legacies of the Obama-Biden leadership?
It's hard to define your legacy before the job is over and it's something that historians are certainly better suited to than i am! But i will say that our goals, when we first came into office, were to reverse the financial crisis we inherited, to do everything we could to give the middle class the opportunity to succeed, to restore our standing around the world, to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to take the fight to al-Qaida.
At this point, about halfway through our time in the White House, i think we've made significant progress.
We rescued our American automobile industry from bankruptcy , made college more affordable for middle-class families, expanded access to affordable healthcare to tens of millions of Americans, and created more than seven million jobs in the process.
We also restored our global reputation, ended the war in Iraq responsibly, are on track to end the war in Afghanistan next year – and made al-Qaida central far weaker and far less capable of attacking nations around the world.
The winding down of two wars has allowed us to turn to opportunities that reflect the realities of a fast-changing world. That has led us to elevate our engagement across the Asia-Pacific , from India to the Americas. And i believe we are making progress in tying together a broad-based Pacific community that can deliver prosperity and security for all nations – that is one reason why i am making this visit to India. There's still more to do, both at home and abroad – but i think it's fair to say we've come a long, long way.
Courtesy: TOI
