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Obama, Manmohan pledge to fight terror

Talk partnership in climate change battle

AFP, Washington
Barack Obama on Tuesday threw the biggest party of his presidency for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, hailing the world's largest democracy as "indispensable" and pledging to work out a range of thorny issues.
Obama rolled out the red carpet for Singh for the first full-fledged official visit of his White House, climaxing in a black-tie dinner that was one ofWashington's most elite social occasions since his January 20 inauguration.
Obama, who had caused unease in India with his early focus on neighbours China and Pakistan, assured that the world's largest democracy was a true partner on his top priorities from counter-terrorism to climate change.
"Our nations are two global leaders, driven not to dominate other nations, but to build a future of security and prosperity for
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all nations," Obama said, flanked by Singh. "As we work to build that future, India is indispensable."
In a toast later before the more than 300 guests dining in candlelit tent on the White House lawn, Singh told a moved Obama that his historic election "captured the imagination" of millions of Indians.
"You are an inspiration to all those who cherish the values of democracy, diversity and equal opportunity," Singh said.
In a nod to Indian concerns about Pakistan, the two leaders issued a joint statement voicing "grave concern about the threat posed by terrorism and violent extremists emanating from India's neighbourhood."
Obama accepted an invitation to visit India next year and his administration signed eight memoranda aiming to solidify growing cooperation.
One 10-million-dollar initiative nained after Obama and Singh would support university linkages; India is already the top source of foreign students in the United States.
The two nations also agreed to launch a dialogue on economic relations, with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to head to India in early2010.
Other projects would work to boost food security and support research on green technology, with two dozen cities across the United States and India to test new systems on solar technology.
Climate change has been one of the few points of recent discord between India and the United States, with each side pressing the other to make further commitments ahead of next month's high-stakes Copenhagen summit.
But Obama, who is expected to make an announcement in coming days on a target for US cuts in carbon emissions, said he agreed with Singh and Chinese leaders to reach a "strong operational agree ment" on reducing global warming.
"It takes us one step closer
to a successful outcome in Copenhagen," Obamasaid.
With a cold drizzle covering Washington, the White House called off an elaborate welcome on the South Lawn. But it went ahead with a glittering dinner whose guests included entertainment mogul Steven Speilberg and members of the increasingly influential 2.5-million-strong Indian-American community.
"You are the hottest ticket in town," Vice President Joe Biden told Singh ata lunch he co-hosted for the premier with Clinton.
Showing the new president's style, his wife Michelle Obama served fresh arugula (rocket) grown at a White House garden she set up in a drive to encourage better eating habits.
The entertainment for the night was to feature two Oscar-winners -- Jennifer Hudson, the singer and actress from "Dreamgirls." and A.R. Rahman, the composer of music for 'Slumdog Millionaire."
The pageantry comes one week after Obama paid his maiden visit to China, where he faced criticism at home for a lack of concrete achievements, with Chinese state television not even broadcasting his sole public forum.
India, by contrast, has transformed in a matter of years in US eyes. After decades of mutual unease during the Cold War, ties with the United States have been rapidly warming and enjoy strong support across party lines.
Former president George W. Bush signed a landmark accord with Singh to allow cooperation on civilian nuclear technology, ending New Delhi’s long pariah status for declaring itself a nuclear weapons state.
Obama is a strong advocate of nuclear disarmament and many Indians doubt he would have reached the same . agreement. But Obama pledged to go ahead with the deal.
"1 am confident and I have the assurance that that pro cess can be completed without much further loss of time," Singh said.