US, India acknowledge cooperation in education, science, health

Washington, June 4 (ANI): The governments of the United States and India have acknowledged the positive contribution of cooperation in the fields' education, science and technology, health and development.

A joint statement issued after the first US-India Strategic Dialogue held here, quoted Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, as saying that there was enormous potential for enhancing academic exchanges and collaboration, including through participation of U.S. universities in India.

This was especially true in the context of the ongoing reforms and expansion of the higher education and professional training sectors in India.

Both also welcomed the steps taken towards implementation of the Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative launched last year with the goal of increasing university linkages and junior faculty development exchanges between U.S. and Indian universities. They further welcomed in this context the formation of the India-U.S Higher Education Forum under the auspices of the US-India Business Council.

Krishna and Clinton also reviewed progress on the collaborative effort to establish a Regional Global Disease Detection Center in India.

They acknowledged that the Health Dialogue would provide a framework to discuss ways to accelerate bilateral cooperation and collaborations, including exchanging views on extending affordable healthcare to all sections of the population and to continuing education and training for health care practitioners at all levels of service.

Both governments pledged to enhance bilateral collaboration in controlling and preventing diseases, assuring food and medical product safety, and increasing biomedical and translational research and development with the goal of identifying new and effective methods of medical treatment and ensuring equitable access of such outcomes to the citizens of both the countries.

They also emphasized the importance of science and technology collaboration, both in economic and strategic areas.

They welcomed the progress on the India-U.S. Science and Technology Joint Committee and the endowment.

The United States and India are using their strong common scientific expertise to improve the lives of their citizens, push the boundaries of scientific knowledge, and identify projects to encourage engagement on innovation and entrepreneurship.

They noted the upcoming U.S.-India Joint Committee Meeting in late June to push this agenda forward. Both governments reinforced the need to support science and technology research aimed at innovation.

Krishna and Clinton noted with satisfaction the emphasis that the two governments place on empowerment of women and advancement of their welfare, as an integral part of social and economic development worldwide.

They resolved to place special emphasis on integrating women's interests in all aspects of their strategic dialogue and bilateral cooperation.

Krishna and Clinton pledged to continue bilateral discussions on their identified ongoing initiatives on global issues of common concern through the Global Issues Forum, which is focused on how the world's two largest democracies can form a truly global partnership by working through regional, international and multilateral cooperation. (ANI)