Obama says India-US ties very important

INDIA - United States President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday told Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that ties between the two countries were a “very important partnership,” Singh’s office said.

In a telephone call to Singh, Obama said that the new administration wanted to work together with New Delhi on all important global issues, a statement from Singh’s office said.

The telephone call came after the Indian media suggested that Obama had ignored New Delhi after being elected by calling several other world leaders first, including President Asif Ali Zardari of India’s arch rival Pakistan. Singh on Monday dismissed the suggestion, saying that Obama had tried to get in touch with him earlier but could not establish contact as he was travelling.

The Indian premier told Obama that bilateral relations were “very good,” but that “we could not be satisfied with the status quo.” Obama said he would like to make a visit to India early in his presidency.

New Delhi, Wednesday, AFP