Obama's India trip sends important message to world: White House

Washington, Jan 22: Ahead of President Barack Obama's trip to India, US officials have described it as an "important message" to the world about the two nations' commitment to realise the full potential of their relationship. Since the time he took office, Obama had "made increasing US engagement with India a top foreign policy priority" Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said Tuesday. The first state visit he hosted at the White House was for the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he noted. Obama himself travelled to India in the first part of his first term in office, he said in a media preview of the three day visit beginning Sunday to become the first American leader to be he the guest of honour at India's Republic Day. "That's rooted in the belief we have that US cooperation with India can significantly advance our interests in terms of promoting economic ties and increased exports to a growing market," Rhodes said. "That's based on our belief that our Asia Pacific policy benefits from closer ties with India, and it's also based on our cooperation on broad ranges of global issues," he said.