PM gets World Statesman Award

A top US official described PM Manmohan Singh as "a man of uncommon decency and grace" who has led the way in building the Indo-US partnership, as he presented the Indian leader 'The World Statesman Award. "History will also mark with special significance Prime Minister Singh's personal contributions to the emerging partnership between the world's oldest and largest democracies, America and India," Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns said at an awards dinners in New York where the Prime Minister was awarded in absentia by the Appeals of Conscience Foundation. Burns said India's rise may be as consequential for international order and the future of the global economy as any other development in the new century, and would be in the interests of the United States.
"As President Obama prepares for an historic state visit to India later this autumn, the promise of our partnership, built on strong bipartisan foundations in both our countries, looms bright and unmistakable. "More than anyone else, it is Prime Minister Singh who has led the way in building US-India partnership," he said, citing Singh's strong support to the historic Indo-US civil nuclear deal. He said Singh's economic policies have helped India's rise within the new G-20 world, and helped produce a doubling of US-India bilateral trade in just a few years.