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The United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Henry H Shelton, arrived in India on a three-day visit on Wednesday.
General Shelton is in India at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Admiral Sushil Kumar.
He said that the US hopes to establish a 'strong' military-to-military relationship with India.
He added, "my trip and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh's meeting with Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld reflect our desire to broaden and deepen our engagement with India on defence issues."
He added that India is a major power with global influence.
As the world's two largest democracies, it was important for the two countries to work together to support mutual goals of peace, security and prosperity, he said.
He added, "I look forward to having productive meetings with the Indian military and civilian leadership."
Shelton, on his first visit to India, said, "it is great to be finally here in India."
After laying a wreath at Amar Jawan on Thursday morning, Shelton will be accorded a guard of honour at South Block.
He will have meetings with External and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh, Admiral Sushil Kumar, Army Chief S Padmanaban, Defence Secretary Yogendra Narain, Air Chief A Y Tipnis, besides National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra.
The Indo-US defence cooperation, which began in 1991, was suspended shortly after the Pokhran nuclear explosions in May 1998. PTI
EARLIER REPORT Shelton to arrive in India Wednesday
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