India looking forward to stregnthening partnership with US

New Delhi, Nov 5 (UNI) India today said it was looking forward to strengthening partnership with the United States and continuing the close engagement developed in recent years both in bilateral cooperation and addressing global issues of common concern.

An official spokesman, while congratulating US President-elect Barack Obama on winning the US elections, said the world's oldest democracy had completed its traditional process of choosing its new President.

The Government and the people of India congratulate Senator Barack Obama who has won the mandate of the American people, the spokesman said.

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have already sent congratulatory messages to Senator Obama and invited him to visit India.

The spokesman said India and the US had traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly ties based on the foundation of strong bonds of people-to-people linkages, shared values and commitment to the principles of democracy, pluralism and the rule of law.

''We look forward to strengthening the partnership between India and the USA and continuing the close engagement that we have developed in recent years both in bilateral cooperation and in addressing global issues of common concern,'' the spokesman added.

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