India a great partner of United States: Tom Donilon

Lalit K Jha

Washington, Jan 14 (PTI) India is a great power and USPresident Barack Obama''s visit to the country last year waspart of the administration''s effort to embrace the country asa great partner, a top Obama aide said today.

Briefing White House correspondents in an off-camerabriefing on the upcoming visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao,National Security Advisor Tom Donilon said the US so far hasbeen under-involved in Asia and the Obama administration isall set to correct that.

"India is a great power and great partner of theUnited States," he said.

Donilon said the November visit of the US Presidentwas part of the administration''s effort to embrace India asits great partner.

His remarks came within an hour of the Oval officemeeting between Obama and his visiting Pakistani counterpartAsif Ali Zardari.

Obama has taken two extensive trip to the region --the first in November 2009 and another last November.

"We have really deepened our relationship with India,"Donilon said during his briefing in which he explained indetail increasing American relationship with Asian countriesand strengthen its ties with its allies in the continentincluding Japan and S Korea.