By Arun Kumar

Washington, Nov 17 (IANS) President Barack Obama had chosen to invite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the first state visit by any foreign dignitary to his White House as the US wanted to take their strategic relationship to the next level, according to a senior US official.

Describing the relationship with India as one of the most important partnerships of the 21st century, Washington’s point man for South Asia Robert Blake Monday said: We are putting in place a wide range of bilateral cooperation to reflect that level of engagement.

Ahead of Manmohan Singh’s very notable state visit next week, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia said the fact that Obama had been elected only last year and Manmohan Singh had been returned with a strong electoral mandate made them very optimistic.

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Manmohan Singh’s visit to take India-US ties to next level