AMBASSADOR'S CIRCLE SERIES PROGRAM

Corporate Patron: SPX

Corporate Sponsor: K&L Gates

Ambassador Meera Shankar
Ambassador of India to the United States

Date: Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Location: Westin Charlotte
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Time: 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Cost: $ 50 (WACC members); $ 65 (non-members) - Lunch included (*vegetarian options available)
*You must be a member a member of the WACC to reserve a seat at this program at the member rate. If you are not sure of your current membership status, please call Maegan LaPlante at 704-687-7757 or e-mail mlaplante@worldaffairscharlotte.org

Purchase a table of 8 and receive 5% discount on total cost

RSVP Information: Please call 704-687-7762 or go to www.worldaffairscharlotte.org to reserve your seat at this program.  We encourage you to sign-up as soon as possible as we expect this program to be oversubscribed.

President Barack Obama has praised the United States' relationship with India as "one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century".
 
Addressing Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the first State visit of his Presidency last month, the President showered praise on India and PM Singh, declaring it was only fitting that the Indian leader should be the first State visitor of his Administration and called India "an indispensable partner " The two leaders pledged to deepen co-operation in areas from security and climate change to trade and education.  (BBC News, November 25th, 2009)
 
On security, President Obama said the U.S and India are natural allies.
"We both recognize that our core goal is to achieve peace and security for all peoples in the region, not just one country or the other," he said.

Noting that the United States was India's largest trading partner, President Obama said broadening trade ties would help create much needed jobs in both countries as governments continue trying to stimulate recession-hit economies.
 
“India and the U.S. are separated by distance but bound by common national values of democracy, pluralism, rule of law and respect for fundamental human freedoms" – Prime Minister Singh
 
India and the United States share important interests on some of today's most pressing strategic issues, including the struggle against terrorism, the stabilization and de-Talibanization of Afghanistan, the cautious engagement of a rising China, and are engaged in joint pursuit of international trade and global warming pacts and in steering the world economy out of turmoil, while further strengthening bilateral ties between the two friendly nations.
 
"Our nations are two global leaders, driven not to dominate other nations, but to build a future of security and prosperity for all nations" - President Obama
 
Join us for this unique conversation with Ambassador Meera Shankar as she discusses U.S.-Indian cooperation in a historical context, the current global order, and the multi-dimensional aspects of the relationship between the two countries.