MUMBAI (Agencies) – The United States and India ‘stand united’ against terror, President Barack Obama said Saturday, launching an Asian tour with an emotional tribute to victims and survivors of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Obama said the relationship between America and India should be a win for both sides – while acknowledging concerns in America about outsourcing.Obama, whose four-nation regional trip is designed to drum up jobs for America, hailed the ‘resilienceÂ’ of the Indian people in the face of the assault on the countryÂ’s financial capital.
“The United States stands in solidarity with all of Mumbai and all of India in working to eradicate the scourge of terrorism,” Obama wrote in the condolence book at a memorial to the victims in Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.
“We visit here to send a very clear message that in our determination to give our people a future of security and prosperity, the United States and India stand united,” Obama said after meeting survivors.
“We will never forget the awful images… The flames from this hotel that lit up the night sky. WeÂ’ll never forget how the world, including the American people, watched and grieved with all of India,” said a sombre Obama.
Obama said the ‘terrorists’ offered only death and destruction and could not trump the diversity, tolerance and resilience of nations like India and America. “We shall never allow that torch of freedom to be blown out, however high the wind or stormy the tempest,” Obama said, quoting India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Treading a fine diplomatic line, Obama did not mention that extremists blamed for the attacks were based in Pakistan. The omission was swiftly criticised by India’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party as a ‘missed opportunity’.
Obama and his wife, First Lady Michelle, flew into Mumbai on Air Force One at the start of a trip that will also take the president to Indonesia, South Korea for the G20 summit and Japan for the APEC summit.
Security was extremely tight in Mumbai, with roads closed, a ban enforced on sea traffic and the plaza near Taj sealed off.
US officials now say that cooperation with India on counter-terrorism is at its highest-ever level, despite IndiaÂ’s misgivings about US support for Pakistan.
After Taj, Obama toured the Mumbai house of Indian independence icon Mahatma Gandhi, who he has cited as a key personal influence. “He is a hero not just to India, but to the world,” he wrote in the visitors’ book.
Obama also announced 10 billion dollars in trade deals with India to create 50,000 US jobs, on a visit that began with an emotional tribute to victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Obama also said he would relax technology export restrictions imposed after India’s nuclear tests back in 1998. “As we look to India today, the United States sees an opportunity to sell our exports in one of the fastest growing markets in the world,” he told an audience of US and Indian businessmen in financial the hub of Mumbai.
“For America this is a jobs’ fair. As we recover from this recession we are determined to rebuild our economy on a stronger foundation for growth,” he added.
At the same time, he urged India to play its part by implementing “a steady reduction in trade barriers” in sectors from retail to telecommunications. “New jobs and growth flow to countries that lower barriers to trade and investment,” Obama said.
“Our trade with India is still less than our trade with the Netherlands,” Obama said. “I have no doubt we can do much better – there is no reason why this nation canÂ’t be one of our top trading partners.”
Outlining a series of measures to ease export controls, Obama said they would allow India’s purchase of ‘dual use’ technologies that have civilian or military applications.
The measures would involve removing Indian space and defence companies from a restricted ‘entities list’ and supporting Indian membership of four key global nuclear non-proliferation regimes.
The commercial agreements included a 7.7 billion dollar contract for Boeing to supply 30 of its 737 aircraft to Spice Airlines, and a preliminary accord on the sale of 10 C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft potentially worth four billion dollars.
US officials now say that cooperation with India on counter-terrorism is at its highest-ever level, despite IndiaÂ’s misgivings about US support for Pakistan.
Obama moves on to New Delhi on Sunday, where he will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and deliver an address to parliament.