PM Singh:America, Finish Columbus's Voyage to India

[Guest guest]

For Immediate Release

Office of the Press Secretary

July 18, 2005

 

"Mark Twain had once said that the only foreign land he ever dreamt about or

deeply

longed to see was India. We have all grown up learning the story of the

unfinished voyage

of Christopher Columbus. Setting sails to reach India, he discovered America.

(Laughter.) I

now invite the people of America to complete the voyage of that great explorer.

(Applause.)" Indian Prime Minister Singh

 

President, Indian Prime Minister Singh Exchange Toasts

The State Dining Room

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/07/20050718-12.html

 

8:07 P.M. EDT

 

THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Prime Minister, Mrs. Kaur, Laura and I are honored to welcome

you to

the White House. It is a great privilege to have you here, along with our

distinguished

guests tonight.

 

India and the United States are separated by half the globe. Yet, today our two

nations are

closer than ever before. The ties that bind us are enriched by the hundreds of

thousands

of Americans of Indian origin. These citizens contribute a lot to America's

vitality. Today,

these Americans are leaders in their professions in business and science, in

space

exploration and technology, and in many other fields. And the United States is a

better

place because of the thousands of students who come here from India to study in

our

universities.

 

Today, our two nations are bound by our common interests. Our trading

partnership has

grown dramatically in recent years, which brings greater prosperity and

opportunity to

citizens of both our countries. America and India also understand the danger of

global

terrorism, which has brought grief to our nations, and united us in our desire

to bring

peace and security to the world.

 

Above all, India and the United States are bound together by common values. As

two

strong, diverse democracies, we share a commitment to the success of

multi-ethnic

democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law. And we believe that by

spreading the

blessings of democracy and freedom, we will ensure lasting peace for our own

citizens and

for the world.

 

Last year, Mr. Prime Minister, you said that the best is yet to come in the

relationship

between India and the United States. The good meetings we have had today

demonstrate

your foresight. America looks forward to working even more closely with India in

the

coming years to spread prosperity and freedom and peace.

 

And so tonight, Mr. Prime Minister, as we celebrate the friendship of our two

nations, I

offer a toast to you, to your gracious wife, and to the great people of India.

 

(A toast is offered.)

 

PRIME MINISTER SINGH: Your Excellency, Mr. President; Madam First Lady, Mrs.

Laura Bush;

distinguished ladies and gentlemen. It is a great pleasure for me, Mr.

President, to thank

you and your gracious wife, not merely on behalf of my wife and myself, but on

behalf of

the people of India as a whole. The generosity of your hospitality is only

exceeded by the

generosity of your spirit. I have often heard of the warm benefactions of the

American

people. But when one feels it with such intensity, it is truly heartwarming. And

I thank you

for that.

 

Bernard Shaw had once described America and England as two countries divided by

one

language. But this once held true for India and America, as well. I believe, Mr.

President,

that our two countries must try to ally with a common lexicon and a shared

framework of

reference in looking at the rest of the world, for I sincerely believe there is

truly very much

that we have in common. However, if in the recent past, our communication has

been

better and clearer, Mr. President, a great deal of this credit must go to you.

 

Mr. President, we are truly indebted to you for your sustained support to the

transformation of the India-U.S. relationship. I have found my visit to your

great country to

be a highly rewarding experience. The joint statement we have issued today

highlights

some key priority areas for expanded cooperation in the future. We look forward

to

working with you to realize our common aspirations in the months and years that

lie

ahead.

 

Mr. President, India and the United States are great nations and great

democracies. We

cherish the openness of our societies and of our economies. We value our

pluralism, our

diversity, and our freedoms. These shared values that bring us together must be

more

visible not only in how we deal with each other, but also in our approach to the

world at

large. We must strengthen democratic capacities jointly. We must oppose the evil

of

terrorism together. To meet such vital challenges, we must be together on the

same page.

We must speak the same language and display the same resolve.

 

Mr. President, I look forward to your visiting India with Mrs. Bush, and with

the great

pleasure of extending our hospitality to you.

 

Mark Twain had once said that the only foreign land he ever dreamt about or

deeply

longed to see was India. We have all grown up learning the story of the

unfinished voyage

of Christopher Columbus. Setting sails to reach India, he discovered America.

(Laughter.) I

now invite the people of America to complete the voyage of that great explorer.

(Applause.)

 

Mr. President, I, myself, come to the United States with a fond belief that what

we do

together, India and the United States can make a significant contribution to

global peace

and prosperity. Indeed, the contribution that the 2 million strong

Indian-American

community is making every sphere of activities in this great country is one

indicator of the

vast, untapped potential in our bilateral relationships.

 

Mr. President; First Lady, Mrs. Laura Bush; ladies and gentlemen: Today has been

a day

well spent and this is a meal well shared. We are happy to break bread with you,

Mr.

President and First Lady, in friendship.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, I now invite you to join me in a toast to the health and

happiness of

President George Bush and the First Lady, Mrs. Laura Bush, the friendly people

of the

United States of America, and to the success of all that we are endeavoring to

do through

this visit to open a new chapter in our relationship.

 

 

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

 

(A toast is offered.) (Applause.)

 

END 8:17 P.M. EDT