New Delhi, Oct 20 (UNI) The US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will be making his maiden visit to India next week with Washington indicating greater convergence with New Delhi vis-a-vis Pakistan's intent on fighting terror and China's challenges to a rule-based international order. "We appreciate his (Tillerson's) positive evaluation of the relationship and share his optimism about its future directions," MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar said here on Friday n reference to Mr Tillerson's policy speech at the American think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on Wednesday. 'Secretary Tillerson has made a significant policy statement on India-US relations and its future," he said. "We look forward to welcoming him in India next week for detailed discussions on further strengthening of our partnership." Mr Tillerson in his statement made a strong case for Pakistan to take "decisive action" against terror groups. "We expect Pakistan to take decisive action against terrorist groups based within their own borders that threaten their own people and the broader region," the US Secretary of State said. Mr Tillerson's reference to China at the deliberations was specifically aimed at showing its clear preference to India as he maintained that "China, while rising alongside India, has done so less responsibly, at times undermining the international, rules-based order even as countries like India operate within a framework that protects other nations’ sovereignty". Laying down a clear roadmap for enhanced partnership, Mr Tillerson said, "India and the United States should be in the business of equipping other countries to defend their sovereignty, build greater connectivity, and have a louder voice in a regional architecture". Ahead of visit to the region which starts with a stopover in Saudi Arabia, the US Secretary of State said, "President Trump and Prime Minister Modi are committed, more than any other leaders before them, to building an ambitious partnership that benefits not only our two great democracies, but other sovereign nations working toward greater peace and stability". More UNI DEVN SRJ SHK 1953