PANJIM:

carter in GoaThe United States has said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s manufacturing initiative Make-in-India will be reflected in the defence activities between the two nations.

Speaking to media after his visit to Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa on Sunday evening, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said both the countries are strategic partners.

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said, Make-in-India is on Mr Modi’s priority list and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is reflecting it in the defence activities between the two nations by stressing on co- production, co-development and technology sharing.

In the presence of Mr Parrikar, Mr Carter said, his visit is significant as India and the USA are doing many activities together to help secure this part of the world and other parts of the world. He said, they have a great partner in the form of India. He said, India and US interests overlap in many important ways.

On Mr Carter’s visit, Mr Parrikar said, the trip was very important as it reflected in the fact that he is coming to India for a second time within a short span. The top American defence official arrived in Goa yesterday afternoon. He will leave for New Delhi today where he will participate in a meeting of the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative, DTTI.

Earlier, Mr Parrikar on Saturday said, the DTTI talks will be held with an aim to incorporate Make In India initiative in the bilateral forum. The Defence Minister had said India will make efforts to expand and deepen defence ties with the US. He said, many bilateral issues of importance will be discussed and finalised in the talks in Delhi.