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Clinton to drop in Chennai during her July visit to India
PTI
Last Updated IST

Clinton will also visit Chennai during her two-day visit to the country to become the first serving Secretary of State to visit the city.

"In general, we plan to talk about the entire scope of US-Indian relations, but also our work together regionally and globally," State Departments spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters at her daily news conference.

Among other issues, Afghanistan would also be discussed with India, Nuland said in response to a question.

"I would expect that Afghanistan will be one of the subjects that she talks about bilaterally in India," Nuland said.

Leading a high-powered US delegation, Clinton, would be travelling to India on July 19-20 with stops at New Delhi and Chennai for the second round of Strategic Dialogue.

The focus would be on giving a new thrust to the relationship between the two countries.

"During her trip to India, Clinton will also visit Chennai, marking the first visit by a serving US Secretary of State to the city, which has emerged as a hub for the trade, investment, and people-to-people engagement that is driving the US-India relationship," Nuland said.
During her stay in Chennai, Clinton is expected to visit the Ford factory, which manufactures' cars for not only the Indian market but also for exports to other parts of the world. She is also expected to hold a town hall meeting in Chennai.

"The depth of the US-India Strategic Dialogue demonstrates the United States' strong support for India as an important actor on the world stage and is representative of the broad and multifaceted US-India relationship," Clinton said last week.

Nuland said the partnership between the world's two largest democracies covers issues ranging from counterterrorism and defense cooperation to climate change, high-tech trade, and scientific innovation.

"Together, the United States and India are working to face the most important and pressing challenges of our time," Nuland said.

This is Clinton's second trip to India in her capacity as the Secretary of State.

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(Published 12 July 2011, 08:05 IST)