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Dr. Murli Mahohar Joshi's visit to the U.S.

Washington, DC
June 8, 2000

Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, India's Minister for Science & Technology, Human Resource Development and Ocean Development, currently on a visit to Washington D.C., met the US scientific community, US Congressmen and members of the Indian community on June 7. Earlier, he was the guest of honour at a reception hosted by Ambassador Naresh Chandra. The reception was attended by US Congressman Jim McDermott and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee as well as by Dr. Neal Lane, Assistant to the US President and Head of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, Deputy Secretary of Education, senior members of US scientific community and members of the Indian American community.

Dr. Joshi held discussions with Dr. Neal Lane, Head of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, on the recently concluded agreement on the setting up of an Indo-US Science & Technology Forum. Both sides expressed their resolve to finalize the modalities and to get the Forum started urgently. In his meetings with Presidents/Executive Directors American scientific and professional societies, Dr. Joshi apprised the scientists of India's current S&T policy and objectives, and discussed means of promoting Indo-US collaboration.

At a meeting with India and American CEO at GlobeTech 2000, Dr. Joshi offered India's scientific expertise for joint work in the pursuit of technology development for the benefit of the entire human kind.

Dr. Joshi held separate meetings with US Senator Sam Brownback, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs and Member of Senate Science Committee; Congressman Sam Gejdenson, Ranking Member of the House of International Relations Committee and Congressman Gary Ackerman, Co-Chairman, India Caucus. Today, the Minister is scheduled to meet Congressman Benjamin Gilman, Chairman, House International Relations Committee and US Secretary of Education, Mr. Richard Riley.

In his meeting with the Indian American community, Dr. Joshi spoke about the successes of the Indian American community, particularly the scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs, and acknowledged their contribution to Indo-US relations. He emphasized that there was no religious persecution or discrimination against any religion in India. He further emphasized that India has been always secular and would remain secular and that the present Government is committed to protection of religious minorities.

Dr. Joshi is scheduled to leave for New York today where he is leading a delegation to the UN Conference on Women Empowerment, Beijing+5.