India has a significant role to play in all major global challenges, a top Obama Administration official has said.
"We think that India has a significant role to play on virtually all of the major challenges that we face in this century, from global economic dislocation to energy security, climate change, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and violent extremism," the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake, said.
In his remarks at the Johns Hopkins University's Model UN Conference, Mr Blake noted that India and the U.S. have followed different path at the United Nations in the past, but now the two countries are having a convergence of interest.
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"Given India's history as a leading non-aligned movement nation, we have sometimes been at odds in the United Nations and India has opposed U.N. involvement on sensitive matters such as Kashmir," he said.
"Nonetheless, with our national interests converging, we hope to find more common ground with India in the coming years.
Moreover, India is one of several countries seeking a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, underlining the importance it attaches to the United Nations," Mr Blake said.
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India along with Brazil, Germany and Japan are seeking permanent membership of the U.N. Security Council.
The United States has so far endorsed only Japan and not committed itself to supporting India, which the Obama Administration calls America's "natural ally".
India understands the importance of the United Nations, Mr Blake said.
"Soon to be the world's most populous country, India already boasts a trillion-dollar-plus economy and is a growing world power.
This past July, Secretary Clinton visited India and launched a Strategic Dialogue, which called for increased collaboration in nearly every field, from developing renewable energy technology to fighting extremism," Mr Blake said.