Kerry for stronger India-US ties

NEW DELHI, Jan 12 (agencies): US Secretary of State John Kerry has called for stronger US-Indian trade ties at an international investor conference ahead of President Barack Obama's visit to India this month. Mr Kerry said better economic ties would help boost India's growth and fight climate change.
Bilateral foreign direct investment now stands at nearly $30bn (£19bn).
Mr Obama will be the chief guest at India's Republic Day ceremony in the capital on 26 January.
Speaking at the investment conference in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on Sunday, Mr Kerry described Indian PM Narendra Modi as a "visionary prime minister".
"We can do more together, and we must do more together, and we have to do it faster," Mr Kerry told the meeting.
"Together, we can create an environment where all of our companies play leading roles in bringing cutting-edge technologies, equipment, capital, and know-how not just to India but to countless countries that need this growth and development now."
Mr Kerry is travelling to Pakistan later on Monday where he will meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Security will be high on the agenda after last month's attack on a school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar where more than 150 people, mostly school children, were killed.
Mr Kerry was involved in a minor road accident on the way to the airport in Ahmedabad city, but he was not injured.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Mr Kerry's car and another one in the motorcade "had a minor traffic accident resulting in some damage to both cars".
"Secretary Kerry was in the first of the two vehicles. He sustained no injuries, nor did any staff or personnel."
At Sunday's meeting, Mr Modi pledged to cut red tape, pursue predictable policies, ensure stable taxes and make India the "easiest place" to do business.
Meanwhile: US Secretary of State John Kerry and his staff were involved in a minor road accident Monday during his visit to western India, but none of the party were injured, an official said.
Kerry was heading to the airport in Ahmedabad city in Gujarat state when his car and another in the motorcade were involved in the accident, a State Department official said.
"During the drive to the airport in Ahmedabad... two cars in the motorcade had a minor traffic accident resulting in some damage to both cars," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
"Secretary Kerry was in the first of the two vehicles. He sustained no injuries nor did any staff or personnel."
Psaki added the motorcade proceeded to the airport "without further incident" after one vehicle was replaced.
Kerry held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit and attended a major investment conference in Gujarat, the premier's home state.
Kerry is also in India ahead of a visit by US President Barack Obama, who will be guest of honour at the country's January 26 Republic Day celebrations.
India's roads are notoriously dangerous. Government figures show 166,506 people died in traffic accidents in 2013, with bad roads, speeding vehicles and poor driving among the contributing factors.