December 11, 2012

Ambassador Nirupama Rao met the Minority Leader and former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi on December 11, 2012 at the Capitol in Washington D.C.

As the 60th speaker of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, Congresswoman Pelosi was the first woman to hold that office and the highest-ranking woman politician in American history. She represents California’s 8th Congressional District.

Ambassador Rao and Minority Leader Pelosi discussed the present state of India-U.S. relations, and the global strategic partnership between the two countries. Ambassador Rao informed her about recent developments in the relationship and India’s perspective on regional and global issues of common interest.

Minority Leader Pelosi spoke of the shared values and complementarities between India and the U.S. and the broad spectrum of opportunities for the two countries to collaborate.

Minority Leader Pelosi warmly recalled her visit to India in 2008 as Speaker of the U.S House of Representatives and noted that she was "honored to be welcomed" by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Ambassador Rao also recalled the meeting between Prime Minister Singh and Ms. Pelosi during the Prime Minister’s state visit to the U.S. in November 2009.

The discussion also touched upon the regional situation in South Asia. Minority Leader Pelosi welcomed India’s positive contribution to Afghanistan’s reconstruction and viewed the U.S.-India partnership as having an important role to play in ensuring Afghanistan’s peace and prosperity.

Ambassador Rao and Minority Leader Pelosi expressed admiration for the contributions made by a growing and dynamic Indian American community to the development of India-U.S. relations and were agreed that the community is a crucial and important bridge between the two countries.