Pelosi Welcomes Indian PM To Capitol

(RTTNews) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., met Monday with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Pelosi said that Singh's visit evoked a recent trip she made to India where she was hosted by Singh as they worked to improve relationships between the two nations.

"India is recognized as a country that is values based," Pelosi said. "It is time for us to have a new dynamic where we talk about economies that alleviate poverty as central to all of our success."

She added, "I look forward to a conversation with the prime minister about how the U.S.-India relationship can be improved, how it can be strengthened and intensified for the good of the entire world."

Pelosi said she particularly valued Singh's views on the progress of the U.S. war in Afghanistan, in dealing with Iran and on the broader war on terrorism.

"Coming almost one year to the day, November 26, 2008, when India suffered a terrible loss in Mumbai, we're gathered here today in the United States to see how we can work more closely together," she said.

Because the Congress is not in session for the week of Thanksgiving, the halls of the Capitol were unusually empty for Singh's visit, but Pelosi also promised that Singh would be welcome to return and to address a joint session of Congress when he did.

Singh said it was both a great privilege and honor to be invited to Polis's "august" office to meet with her.

"I was tremendously impressed by your ability to comprehend the difficult issues that confront a country of India's size, India's complexity," he said. "I know the important role that the Speaker of the House of Representatives plays in the polity of this great country … and for me it is a real, a rare honor to be received by the speaker in her august office."

He added, "It is my hope and mission to give you new trust to this strategic partnership during this visit."

by RTT Staff Writer

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