THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release September 15, 2000
JOINT STATEMENT
Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Clinton today reaffirmed the
vision they outlined in March in New Delhi of a closer and qualitatively
new relationship between India and the United States in the 21st century.
They reiterated their conviction that closer cooperation and stronger
partnership between the two countries will be a vital factor for shaping a
future of peace, prosperity, democracy, pluralism and freedom for this
world. They acknowledged that this vision draws strength from broad
political support in both countries.
The two leaders agreed that the wide-ranging architecture of
institutional dialogue between the two countries provides a broad-based
framework to pursue the vision of a new relationship. They expressed
satisfaction at the pace and purposefulness with which the two countries
have initiated the consultations envisaged in the dialogue architecture.
In particular, the two leaders are gratified by their recent exchange of
visits, and by the regular foreign policy consultations at the ministerial
and senior policy levels:
? They expressed satisfaction at the role that the two countries played
in the launch of the Community of Democracies.
? In the economic arena, they reaffirmed their confidence that the three
ministerial-level economic dialogues and the High-Level Coordinating Group
will improve the bilateral trade environment, facilitate greater commercial
cooperation, promote investment, and contribute to strengthening the global
financial and trading systems.
? They welcomed the progress of the Joint Working Group on
Counter-Terrorism, and agreed that it would also examine linkages between
terrorism and narcotics trafficking and other related issues. They noted
the opening of a Legal Attach? office in New Delhi designed to facilitate
cooperation in counter-terrorism and law enforcement.
? The two leaders expressed satisfaction that the joint consultative
group on clean energy and environment met in July and agreed to revitalize
and expand energy cooperation, while discussing the full range of issues
relating to environment and climate change.
? They welcomed the establishment of the Science and Technology forum in
July and agreed that the forum should reinvigorate the traditionally strong
scientific cooperation between the two countries. In that connection, they
noted the contribution of the two science and technology related roundtable
meetings held in March and September.
? They also welcomed the recent initiatives in the health sector,
including the joint statements of June 2000, as examples of deepening
collaboration in improving health care and combating AIDS and other major
diseases of our time.
The two leaders agreed that India and the United States must build upon
this new momentum in their relationship to further enhance mutual
understanding and deepen cooperation across the full spectrum of political,
economic, commercial, scientific, technological, social, and international
issues.
During this visit, the two leaders had productive discussions across a
wide range of bilateral, regional, and international developments. In the
economic arena, they agree that India?s continuing economic reforms, as
well as the two countries? complementary strengths and resources, provide
strong bases for expansion of economic ties between the two countries. The
two leaders recognized the need to deepen cooperation on high-tech trade
issues. They noted that the present regime on e-commerce would be rolled
over until the next ministerial meeting of the WTO, and that the two
countries would cooperate in building a wider international consensus on
information technology. The two leaders pledged their joint commitment to
bridge the digital divide, both within and between countries, so that the
benefits of information technology may advance the economic and social
development of all citizens, rich and poor.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction with their agreement on textiles.
They also affirmed the need for expansion of bilateral civil aviation ties
and agreed to work toward this goal. They recognized the contribution that
biotechnology can make to a safe and nutritious food supply, in offering
new options to farmers to address problems of pests and diseases, while to
contributing to environmental protection and enhancing global food
security. The governments of the United States and India will explore ways
of enhancing cooperation and information exchange, joint collaborative
projects and training of scientists in agriculture biotechnology research.
The ongoing vaccine research would be further strengthened also, making use
of genomics and bioinformatics. The governments of both the United States
and India support science-based regulatory activities.
They also noted significant progress on other important economic issues
including mutual taxation and investment in the power and other sectors.
In regard to double taxation issues, the competent authorities of both
sides intend to soon negotiate an arrangement under which collection or
recovery of tax will generally be suspended on a reciprocal basis, during
pendency of a mutual agreement proceeding. To ensure sustainable economic
growth that will lift the lives of rich and poor alike, the two leaders
committed support for efforts that will make capital markets more
efficient, transparent, and accountable to attract the billions in private
investment that is needed.
They recognize the need for appropriate technology for power generation,
and the importance of greater South Asian regional cooperation and trade in
energy, as well as the development and application of clean technologies
that address our respective problems of urban and water pollution. The
leaders noted with satisfaction the signings of several major commercial
agreements, under which U.S. firms will contribute to the development of
the power industry in India.
The United States and India intend to harness their cooperation in
emerging scientific and economic sectors into a partnership for defining
new ways of fighting hunger, disease, pollution, and other global
challenges of our time. The two leaders pledged their strong commitment to
address the global challenge of the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS
through the close involvement and cooperation between the governments and
civil society in the two countries. They expressed support for the
collaborative program for research in various areas, including HIV/AIDS
vaccine development, through the Joint Working Groups of scientists
envisaged by the Joint Statement of June 2000. They agreed to encourage
the formation of a business council to combat HIV/AIDS with the active
involvement and participation of business and industry to raise awareness
in the industrial workplace.
The two leaders discussed international security. They recalled the long
history of Indo-U.S. cooperation in UN peacekeeping operations, most
recently in Sierra Leone. The two leaders agreed to broaden their
cooperation in peacekeeping and other areas of UN activity, including in
shaping the future international security system. The two leaders also
discussed the evolving security environment in Asia, recalling their common
desire to work for stability in Asia and beyond. They agreed that the
Asian Security Dialogue that the two countries have initiated will
strengthen mutual understanding.
The two countries reaffirmed their belief that tensions in South Asia
can only be resolved by the nations of South Asia, and by peaceful means.
India reiterated its commitment to enhancing cooperation, peace, and
stability in the region. Both sides stressed the unacceptability of
continued violence and bloodshed as a basis for solution of the problems of
the region.
The United States and India seek to advance their dialogue on security
and nonproliferation issues, building upon the joint statement signed
during President Clinton?s visit to India in March. They reiterated their
respective commitments to forgo nuclear explosive tests. India reaffirmed
that, subject to its supreme national interests, it will continue its
voluntary moratorium until the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) comes
into effect. The United States reaffirmed its intention to work for
ratification of the Treaty at the earliest possible date. The Indian
government will continue efforts to develop a broad political consensus on
the issue of the Treaty, with the purpose of bringing these discussions to
a successful conclusion. India also reconfirmed its commitment not to
block entry into force of the Treaty. India expects that all other
countries, as included in Article XIV of CTBT, will adhere to this Treaty
without reservations. The United States and India reiterated their support
for a global treaty to halt the production of fissile material for weapons
purposes, and for the earliest possible start of Fissile Material Cutoff
Treaty negotiations in Geneva. The United States noted its moratorium on
the production of fissile material for weapons purposes and supports a
multilateral moratorium on such production pending conclusion of a Fissile
Material Cutoff Treaty. The United States and India commended the progress
made so far on export controls, and pledged to continue to strengthen them.
Both countries agreed to continue their dialogue on security and
nonproliferation, including on defense posture, which is designed to
further narrow differences on these important issues.
In combating international terrorism, the two leaders called on the
international community to intensify its efforts, including at the current
session of the United Nations. Noting that both India and the United
States are targets of continuing terrorism, they expressed their
determination to further reinforce bilateral cooperation in this area.
They have agreed to hold another round of counter-terrorism consultations
in New Delhi later this month, and to pursue work on a Mutual Legal
Assistance Treaty.
Finally, the two leaders also paid tribute to the contributions of the
Indian-American community in providing a bridge of understanding between
the two societies and in strengthening the ties of commerce and culture
between the two countries. In this connection, they commended the progress
of the initiative to set up a collaborative Global Institute for Science
and Technology in India. The two leaders agreed to encourage
people-to-people connections between the two nations, and to enlist the
cooperation of all sections of their talented and diverse societies in
support of that goal.
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