Chennai: United States Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, who is on his first official visit to Chennai, hailed the strong and growing Indo-US ties, particularly South India, and said the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to US is a prime example of accelerated collaboration between the two countries.

Presiding over the 247th anniversary celebration of U.S.Independence, hosted by the U.S.Consulate General here, he highlighted US-India areas of cooperation, including in the Indo-Pacific, gender equity, innovation, space and climate change, while also recognizing robust US-India people-

to-people ties and institutional partnerships.

Ambassador Garcetti hailed the strong and growing partnership between the United States and India, particularly South India. “The deep ties  between the U.S. and India are gaining strength in many key areas and South India has a key role in the partnership.

He said "the upcoming visit to the US Mr Modi is a prime example of the accelerated collaboration between our two countries. The US-India partnership is one of our most consequential relationships."

"We look forward to continuing to work with India on our shared goals in the Indo-Pacific region. We continue to engage India to deepen our cooperation on the vital issues of peace, prosperity, the planet, and our peoples,” the Ambassador said and expressed appreciation to the guests in attendance, referring to their contributions as “the engine behind the vibrant and robust U.S.-India relationship.”

Representing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion, and Commerce Dr.T.R.B. Rajaa wished all Americans on the occasion of Independence Day.

“It is a great honor for me to participate in today’s celebration as a representative of Tamil Nadu, which has deep ties with the United States.

Tamil Nadu values freedom, diversity, and equality as much as the U.S. does, and we wish to deepen our ties by collaborating on sustainable industrial growth, in the spirit of these values.”

Rear Admiral Michael Baker, Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, Geoffrey Parish, Deputy Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, and U.S. National Science Foundation Director Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan
also attended.

U.S. Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin and Vice Consul Camille Zoe Swinson were the masters of ceremony.    

(With UNI inputs)