Alcee Hastings: “I rise today to welcome to Washington Prime Minister Rao of India. I look forward to attending the joint session which…”

“I rise today to welcome to Washington Prime Minister Rao of India. I look forward to attending the joint session which he will address tomorrow and to sharing with him my interest in closer relations between our two countries. India, the world's largest democracy, has already established a free market economy. Their markets are open to foreign investment and their trade barriers have been slashed. India, with its burgeoning middle/ consumer class, has outstanding potential for United States products and businesses. Both the United States and India have, of late, forgotten why our two democracies have traditionally been close allies. I hope that Prime Minister Rao's visit will both remind us why we have been friends and illustrate how a closer future relationship will benefit both countries.”