Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee Thursday extended a hand of friendship to US President-elect George W. Bush and said he looked forward to working with him.
"I recall my telephone conversation during my visit to the United States in September and appreciate the sentiments you expressed for a close and strong partnership between our two countries," Vajpayee said in a congratulatory message.
"I am happy that the new warmth and vibrancy that has been infused into the Indo-US bilateral relationship has popular support across the political spectrum in both our countries ... I look forward to working with you."
Indian industry Thursday also welcomed Bush's victory and said it would fan warmer bilateral trade and economic ties.
Anwar Hoda of the Indian Council for Research in International Economic Relations said Al Gore's focus on the environment and labour had raised serious concerns that he would push to link both issues to the regulations of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
"This is a policy India would fight tooth-and-nail," Hoda said.
"We expect Bush to take a more positive and fluid stand in WTO negotiations on trade and the environment vis-a-vis developing countries like India as his Republican party has always been opposed to linking both the issues."
Hoda added that since Bush was more in step with the Indian stand on WTO negotiations he expected "contentious issues" of the past which have dogged Indo-US trade ties to be finally cast aside.
"We are optimistic about irritants in trade negotiations being dropped ... Bush's victory is in India's trade interests," Hoda said.
Arun Bharat Ram, president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), said he also expected overall US trade policy towards India to be on stronger ground.
"The commonality of interests that India and the United States discovered in economic relations during President Bill Clinton's visit to India in March this year will not be jeopardised by this result ... It is only likey to grow."
Indian foreign ministry spokesman Raminder Singh Jassal maintained the official line that there would be no change in New Delhi's relations with Washington following Bush's election.
"In the US there is total bipartisan support for stronger ties with India and there is recognition for the same here which cuts across party lines. Both sides understand the importance of the relationship," said Jassal.
"Nothing can touch the new vision and warmth of Indo-US ties as evinced during Clinton's visit to India early this year and later Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's visit to Washington in September."
Bush advisors have signaled they will work to contain nuclear tensions in India and Pakistan. Like Clinton, they have said they will work hard to improve a rapidly warming relationship with India, as the world's largest democracy.
However, the Indian media observed that "the tortuous course" of the dispute over the US presidential election had somewhat diminished Bush's international political standing.
"The American president once elected has traditionally been a figure commanding totemic power... his domestic standing has gone to reinforce his power and influence in international affairs," said the Indian Express newspaper.
"Against the background of bitter and partisan feuding that this year's election process has seen and the cloud over the legitimacy of the outcome, it is doubtful whether the US president will be able to command the same public confidence." -- NEW DELHI (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
