Remarks With Indian Minister of External Affairs Pranab Kumar Mukherjee, Secretary Condoleezza Rice, Remarks following meeting, Washington, DC, March 24, 2008: “India is the fastest-growing democracy in the world. It is also, perhaps, the fastest-growing export market for U.S. business and industry. Two-way trade and investment between our two countries is growing along with our cooperation in agriculture, clean energy, environment, science and technology, health and education. A similar momentum can also be seen in our different (inaudible) for peaceful use of outer space and other high-technology areas. We believe that the India-U.S. partnership is based on a bedrock of long-term commitments and a shared vision. During my discussion with Secretary Rice we agreed to maintain the positive momentum generated particularly by the visits of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to United States in July 2005 and that of President Bush to India in March 2006. Several critical decisions were taken during that visit on a wide spectrum of issues important to both countries. It will be our common endeavor to register progress on all of them. In this context, I discussed with Secretary Rice the recent developments related to our bilateral cooperation. Secretary Rice and I shared our views and concerns about regional and international developments. There is a broad overlap in our interests and objectives, and we intend to supplement our dialogue with a closer working-level interaction on a regular basis within the Ministry of External Affairs in India and the U.S. State Department.”