Administration of Jimmy Carter PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS Week Ending Saturday, January 7, 1978 New Delhi, India Remarks of the President and President N. S. PRESIDENT REDDY. Mr. President, Mrs. men: It gives me great pleasure to welcome President and Mrs. Carter and the very distinguished guests on this New Year's Day. The year just ended saw a new burst of faith and vitality in our two democracies. The year which begins today will, we hope, open a new chapter in our relations. Our people were greatly enthused at the visit last year of your mother, Mrs. Lillian Carter, and especially at her abiding interest in the little community of Vikhroli, which she served with great dedication some years ago. Today in welcoming you, we welcome not only the President of the United States but also a great humanist, a man of ideals, and one who has brought to international politics the nobility of moral imperatives. Much has happened in our two countries since the last visit of an American President to India. It is a happy coin have worked for a free and easy dialog between the people and the governments of our two countries. As mature, independent nations our countries have had differences in priorities and policies, which have often clouded the common ideals and deep affinities which bind us. Neither of our countries has been indifferent to the great challenges which confront the world as a whole. We believe that our goals are the same—a world of peace, justice, and liberty for individuals and nations. The United States has long interested itself and cooperated with us in our own developmental balance. We believe that a closer and more confident relationship can be of mutual benefit and in turn contribute to serve the cause of building bridges of cooperation between the developed and developing countries. We hope, Mr. President, that this visit, however short, will provide an opportunity for frank and free discussions and become a catalyst for establishing a clear rapport and understanding between the leaders of our two governments. But even this brief visit will, I am confident, give you an opportunity to get a feel of the warmth of friendship which the cidence that governments in Washington people of India have for the people of the and New Delhi changed almost at the same time. Shared values in terms of democracy and the dignity of the individual United States. On behalf of the people and government of India and on my own behalf, |