Mumbai – The U.S. Consulate General Mumbai celebrated its National Day on August 22 at the Taj Palace Hotel with Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Kathleen Stephens of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, U.S. Consul General in Mumbai Tom Vajda, and Chief Guest Swadheen Kshatriya, Maharashtra Chief Secretary.
Ambassador Stephens, who arrived in New Delhi in June 2014, said of the U.S.-India relationship, “The U.S. message could not be clearer. We, as the U.S. government and as the American people, are ready and eager to engage with India and Indians on all fronts to strengthen further our bilateral relationship. And we are ready to engage at the highest levels.” Since India just celebrated its own Independence Day, she congratulated both countries.
In his remarks, Consul General Vajda added, “India and the United States have a shared stake in each other’s future. From our democratic institutions to our common values, from higher education to high-tech innovation, and even from Hollywood to Bollywood, our relationship is truly a joint venture.”
The event commemorated the adoption of the United States’ Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and its subsequent 238-year history as the world’s oldest democracy. The event gave guests an opportunity to recognize the values shared by the peoples of the United States and India, the world’s largest democracy.
The United States as a destination for tourism and business travel was showcased through a photo exhibit. Guests sang the Indian and U.S. national anthems, followed by a “Color Guard” march by the U.S. Marines in honor of the U.S. Independence Day. With a live band playing music, guests enthusiastically participated in the celebrations.
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