Secretary Clinton and the External Affairs Minister of India S.M. Krishna met on July 20 and committed to building an enhanced India- U.S. strategic partnership that seeks to advance solutions to the defining challenges of our time, including climate change. In this realm, the two signed an agreement jointly creating a $30 million endowment to be used for joint research and development, innovation, entrepreneurial, and commercialization activities in science and technology. Minister Krishna and Secretary Clinton pledged to intensify collaboration on energy security and climate change. Efforts will focus on increasing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean energy technologies. In order to foster this collaboration, Minister Krishna and Secretary Clinton will chair an “India-U.S. Strategic Dialogue” that meets once annually in alternate capitals. This dialogue will focus on a wide range of bilateral, global, and regional issues of shared interest and common concern, continuing programmes currently under implementation and taking mutually beneficial initiatives that complement Indian and U.S. development, security and economic interests. Secretary Clinton will welcome Minister Krishna for the first round of the Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. in the coming year. India and the U.S. also affirmed their commitment to work together with other countries, including through the Major Economies Forum, for positive results in the UNFCCC Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen in December 2009.
