[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 29 (Monday, July 25, 2005)]
[Pages 1184-1185]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a State Dinner Honoring Prime Minister Singh of India

July 18, 2005

    Mr. Prime Minister, Mrs. Kaur, Laura and I are honored to welcome 
you to the White House. It is a great privilege to have you here, along 
with our distinguished guests tonight.
    India and the United States are separated by half the globe. Yet 
today, our two nations are closer than ever before. The ties that bind 
us are enriched by the hundreds of thousands of Americans of Indian 
origin. These citizens contribute a lot to America's vitality. Today, 
these Americans are leaders in their professions in business and 
science, in space exploration and technology, and in many other fields. 
And the United States is a better place because of the thousands of 
students who come here from India to study in our universities.
    Today, our two nations are bound by our common interests. Our 
trading partnership has grown dramatically in recent years, which brings 
greater prosperity and opportunity to citizens of both our countries. 
America and India also understand the danger of global terrorism, which 
has brought grief to our nations and united us in our desire to bring 
peace and security to the world.
    Above all, India and the United States are bound together by common 
values. As two strong, diverse democracies, we share a commitment to the 
success of multi-ethnic democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of 
law. And we believe that by spreading the blessings of democracy and 
freedom, we will ensure lasting peace for our own citizens and for the 
world.
    Last year, Mr. Prime Minister, you said that the best is yet to come 
in the relationship between India and the United States. The good 
meetings we have had today demonstrate your foresight. America looks 
forward to working even more closely with India

[[Page 1185]]

in the coming years to spread prosperity and freedom and peace.
    And so tonight, Mr. Prime Minister, as we celebrate the friendship 
of our two nations, I offer a toast to you, to your gracious wife, and 
to the great people of India.

 Note: The President spoke at 8:07 p.m. in the State Dining Room at the 
White House. In his remarks, he referred to Gursharan Kaur, wife of 
Prime Minister Singh. The transcript made available by the Office of the 
Press Secretary also included the remarks of Prime Minister Singh.