Washington, Jan 12 (UNI) India’s new Ambassador to America Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Friday presented his diplomatic credentials to the US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office of the White House.
Mr Shringla, a 1984-batch Indian Foreign Service diplomat, succeeds Navtej Sarna who retired on December 31.
Mr Shringla, who was India's envoy in Dhaka till last week, will be the youngest Indian ambassador to the US.
"President Trump warmly welcomed Ambassador Shringla to Washington and wished him every success in his high responsibilities as India's Ambassador to the United States," a release from Indian embassy in Washington DC said.
President Trump "fondly recalled his friendship with Prime Minister Modi" and his recent telephone conversation with the Prime Minister, the statement said.
President Trump also highlighted the broad range of strategic interests and fundamental democratic values shared between two countries.
"Ambassador Shringla in his remarks conveyed warm greetings from the President and the Prime Minister of India to President Trump and the First Lady. Ambassador Shringla also added that India was greatly encouraged by the President's strong personal commitment to take the India-US strategic partnership forward," the statement said.
Ambassador Shringla assured President Trump of his commitment to expand key pillars of the bilateral relationship including economic relations and trade ties, defence and security, energy, science and technology and global issues, among others, the statement said.
At a post-credentials ceremony attended by senior officials of the Indian Embassy, the State Department and the White House, Mr Shringla said he is amazed at the amount of progress that the US-India relationship has made in the last few years.
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