[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 12 (Monday, March 27, 2000)]
[Pages 596-598]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Agreed Principles: Institutional Dialogue Between the United States and 
India

March 21, 2000

    1. During the visit of President Clinton to Delhi in March 2000, 
President Clinton and Prime Minister Vajpayee agreed as part of their 
vision for the future relationship that a regular, wide-ranging dialogue 
is important for achieving the goal of establishing closer and 
multifaceted relations between India and the United States and for the 
two countries to work jointly for promotion of peace and prosperity in 
the 21st century. The two leaders agreed on a number of steps to 
intensify and institutionalize the dialogue between India and the United 
States.
    2. The President of the United States and Prime Minister of India 
will hold regular bilateral `Summits' in alternating capitals or

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elsewhere, including on the occasions of multilateral meetings, to 
review bilateral relations and consult on international developments and 
issues. They will remain in frequent contact by telephone and through 
letters.
    3. The two countries will also hold an Annual Foreign Policy 
Dialogue at the level of the Secretary of State of the United States and 
External Affairs Minister of India. This dialogue will be broad-based 
and touch upon all aspects of US-India relations, including considering 
the work of other groups as appropriate.
    4. The two countries also consider the ongoing Dialogue on Security 
and Non-proliferation between the Deputy Secretary of State of the 
United States and External Affairs Minister of India important for 
improving mutual understanding on bilateral, regional and international 
security matters. They agreed that this dialogue should continue and 
take place semi-annually or as often as considered desirable by both 
sides. The Principals of this dialogue will establish Expert Groups on 
specific issues as considered desirable and appropriate.
    5. Foreign Office Consultations between the Under Secretary of State 
for Political Affairs of the United States and Foreign Secretary of 
India will continue. The two leaders believe that close cooperation 
between the two countries is a factor of stability in the politically 
and culturally diverse and rapidly transforming Asia. A Dialogue on 
Asian Security will also be conducted as part of the Foreign Office 
Consultations. The two sides will also stay in close touch and consult 
on international democracy initiatives.
    6. The two leaders consider combating international terrorism as one 
of the most important global challenges. They expressed satisfaction at 
the establishment of the Joint Working Group on Counter-terrorism and 
its productive first meeting in February 2000. They agree that the Joint 
Working Group should continue to meet regularly and become an effective 
mechanism for the two countries to share information and intensify their 
cooperation in combating terrorism.
    7. The two leaders see an enormous potential for enhancement of 
economic and business relations between the two countries in the 
Knowledge Age. They decided to institutionalize bilateral economic 
dialogue. They will keep themselves informed and follow developments in 
the bilateral economic dialogue closely through a high-level 
coordinating group. The coordinating group will be led on the US side by 
the White House with the support of the State Department, and on the 
Indian side by the Prime Minister's Office with the support of the 
Ministry of External Affairs.
    The Coordinating Group will develop a common economic agenda for and 
      undertake preparations for the Heads of Government meetings. With 
      broad inter-agency and inter-ministerial representations at senior 
      official levels, it would convene regularly to facilitate close 
      coordination on the various issues raised in the ministerial 
      dialogues and ensure that discussions therein complement and 
      reinforce broad economic and foreign policy objectives, including 
      the deepening of bilateral cooperation on high technology and 
      information technology issues.

    US-India Financial and Economic Forum: The US Secretary of the 
      Treasury and the Indian Minister of Finance will host a forum on 
      finance and investment issues, macroeconomic policy and 
      international economic developments at regular intervals. Their 
      meetings at the ministerial level would be supplemented by sub-
      Cabinet meetings and involve, as appropriate, the participation of 
      the Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Reserve, Council 
      of Economic Advisors, and other officials of the US Government and 
      the Securities and Exchange Board of India, Reserve Bank of India, 
      and other officials of the Government of India.

    US-India Commercial Dialogue: The US Secretary of Commerce and 
      Minister of Commerce and Industry of India will lead a dialogue to 
      deepen ties between the Indian and American Business communities. 
      The dialogue will encompass regular government-to-government 
      meetings to be held in conjunction with private sector meetings. 
      Its aim will be

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      to (a) facilitate trade, and (b) maximize investment opportunities 
      across a broad range of economic sectors, including information 
      technology, infrastructure, biotechnology, and services. 
      Participation will include, as appropriate, representatives of 
      other Cabinet agencies and ministries on both sides. Close contact 
      will be maintained with business associations, and activities will 
      be planned with the benefit of such private sector input, 
      including the establishment of subcommittees to pursue specific 
      projects or sectoral issues of mutual interest.

    US-India Working Group on Trade: The United States Trade 
      Representative and the Ministry of Commerce and other concerned 
      Ministries/Departments of the Government of India will engage in 
      regular discussion to enhance cooperation on trade policy. As 
      appropriate, individual trade issues could be examined in greater 
      depth with the participation of other agencies with corresponding 
      responsibilities and through creation of sub-groups. The Group 
      will serve as a locus of consultation on a broad range of trade-
      related issues, including those pertaining to the World Trade 
      Organization. The Group will receive inputs from the private 
      sector (including trade policy issues identified in the US-India 
      Commercial Dialogue) as appropriate.

    8. The two leaders consider cooperation between the two countries in 
energy and environment an important part of their vision for the future. 
They have agreed to set up a Joint Consultative Group on Clean Energy 
and Environment. The Group will hold periodic ministerial/high level 
meetings as desirable and appropriate and will lay emphasis on 
collaborative projects, developing and deploying clean energy 
technologies, public and private sector investment and cooperation, and 
climate change and other environmental issues. The Co-conveners of the 
Group will be the Department of State of the United States and the 
Ministry of External Affairs of India.
    9. The two leaders believe that the strong scientific resources of 
the two countries provide excellent opportunities for scientific 
collaboration between them. They agree to set up a US-India Science and 
Technology Forum. The Forum shall promote research and development, the 
transfer of technology, the creation of a comprehensive electronic 
reference source for US-India science and technology cooperation, and 
the electronic exchange and dissemination of information on US-India 
science and technology cooperation, and other programs consistent with 
the previous practice of the US-India Foundation.
    10. Institutional dialogue in other areas will be considered as 
mutually agreed.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement.