India and United States are currently hammering out a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) in the civil aviation sector, the details of which will be announced during the strategic dialogue to be co-chaired by U.S.Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna.
India and the United States are hopeful about collaborating on aircraft components,air traffic management, maintenance, repairs and overhaul, aviation safety, security and capacity building.
During the dialogue, the two co-chairs will a*sess progress made in ties since President Obama’s visit to New Delhi in November 2010.
Both sides will review their bilateral relations, which are based on the five pillars of strategic cooperation that includes defense cooperation and counter-terrorism cooperation; energy and Climate cooperation; economics; trade and agriculture; science and technology; health and innovation, and education, development and empowerment.
India and United states will also work on the contours of the India-US Higher Education Summit that is to take place in Washington in October this year.
There would also be discussions on regional issues, including the situation in AFPAK, developments in the Asia-Pacific region and in the wider Middle-East.
Both countries have already held consultations on developments in the Asia-Pacific region.Officials of both countries will also have their first dialogue on West Asia before the Delhi strategic dialogue.
India and United States have so far recorded bilateral trade of 48.75 billion dollars and the trade volume in the first quarter of 2011) has grown at about 20 per cent.
During her visit, Clinton will call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.She will also visit Chennai.
There has been intense bilateral engagement between the two countries since Obama’s India visit last year.This includes visits by the US Commerce Secretary,the Senate Minority leader,Mitch McConnell and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
From Indian side, National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee have visited the United States.
A High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG) meeting took place in Delhi on July 11 and 12.There have been other meetings such as a strategic security dialogue in Vienna; an aviation steering group meeting; a ICT joint working group meeting.By Naveen Kapoor
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