Obama extends Republic Day greeting to India

Washington/New Delhi, Jan 24: US President

on Friday extended

greeting to

, expressing the hope that both the countries will be able to fulfil people's expectations and aspirations for "this truly global partnership".

In his congratulatory message to President Pranab Mukherjee on the occasion of India's 65th Republic Day, Obama said the people of America join the people of India in celebrating its inspiring democratic heritage. "Our partnership has always been guided by our shared values and interests.

I look forward to working with you in the year ahead to fulfil our people's expectations and aspirations for this truly global partnership. "In the warm spirit of friendship and partnership, and on behalf of the American people, I congratulate you on this anniversary and share my warmest wishes for continued prosperity and peace," the US President was quoted by as saying by Mukherjee's Press Secretary Venu Rajamony in Delhi.

In Washington, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Heather Higginbottom termed America's partnership with India as broad and strong.

"The bottom line is that this (India-US) partnership is broad and it is strong," Higginbottom said. "India's Republic Day reminds us of the strength of India's democratic institutions and traditions," she said in her address at a reception organised by Indian Ambassador to the US S Jaishankar ahead of the January 26 celebrations.

"And it also reminds us of the strength of the ties between our people and our governments, as we often say, we have a strategic partnership between the oldest and the largest democracies in the world," Higginbottom said. "We have a broad range of joint efforts and shared interests that keep propelling us forward,"

Higginbottom said, bringing the message of the US President. "Our space cooperation has given Indian farmers better weather forecasts; our homeland security dialogue has made our countries safer from terrorist attacks and our health initiatives have enhanced our ability to detect dangerous pathogens that threaten all people," she said.

PTI