Describing India as a "rising world power", US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher on Friday emphasised the need to fight the global menace of terrorism "jointly and in a more comprehensive manner".
"Of late the menace of terrorism has reached such a height that it has become virtually impossible for any country to fight it alone," he said while participating in a special interactive session with members of the Indian Chamber of Commerce at the beginning of his two-day visit to Kolkata.
Boucher is the highest ranking US official visiting eastern India this year.
Describing relations between India and the USA as the "best ever", Boucher said the 7/11 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai had once again proved that there was an urgent need to fight the danger unitedly. "USA was among the first country to condemn the dastardly act in the strongest words," he added.
Referring to the recent signing of the Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation between the two largest democracies of the world, Boucher said apart from opening a new chapter in the nuclear proliferation issue, the treaty had brought the nations closer on various important issues.
"The best of Indo-US relation is more prevalent through the fact that the the US Congress, despite some opposition, was able to pass the treaty comprehensively. We hope that the US Senate will also pass it in a similar fashion," he said.
However, when his attention was drawn to the country's opposition to India's claim to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a defensive Boucher said, "Though in every fora USA acknowledges India's growing importance in the socio-economic strata of the world, because of certain compulsions we are only supporting the candidature of Japan for the post."
Boucher reiterated his country's acknowledgement to India's growing importance in world affairs with full American support.
Earlier on his arrival in Kolkata, Boucher called on Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya at his Writers' Building chamber and discussed the potential of future American investment opportunities in West Bengal in the IT sector and agriculture and food processing industries.
Describing the meeting as "very fruitful" in terms of future economic cooperation and the reform programmes, Boucher said he had found the overall business environment in the state as "quite favourable".
He also announced the visit of several high ranking US business delegations to the city in October-November to explore more opportunities.
