Ambassador Nirupama Rao visited Washington State from September 11-13, 2013. India regards the promotion of exchanges between India and this important state in the Pacific-Northwest of the United States as very relevant to the expanding India-U.S Strategic Partnership.

On her arrival in Seattle on Sept. 11, the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, Ambassador Rao met with Governor J. Inslee in the state capital of Olympia. She noted that it was a day of remembrance, marked by solemn prayer, being the 12th anniversary of these horrific terrorist attacks.  Governor Inslee noted that apart from the U.S, the attacks had affected the international community and had changed the world\'s perception of security. Ambassador Rao elucidated on the strategic cooperation between India and the U.S in various fields including counterterrorism, defense, education, trade & business, technology, energy, including civil nuclear cooperation.  Governor Inslee expressed his admiration for India’s democracy and conveyed his interest in furthering cooperation especially in the high-tech sectors while seeking to increase Washington\'s agricultural exports including the supply of apples to India. A keen mountaineer, and painter, Governor Inslee presented Ambassador Rao with a painting he had made of Mount Rainier, a well known mountain in Washington State. Ambassador Rao invited the Governor to visit India.

On September 13, a breakfast meeting was held between Ambassador Rao and RepresentativeJim McDermott of the U.S Congress. Rep. McDermott is a founding member of the House Congressional Caucus on India and the Indian Americans. In their discussion, Rep. McDermott and the Ambassador focused on issues of bilateral and global importance including the forthcoming visit of the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh to Washington, immigration reform and also the situation in Syria.

Ambassador Rao attended a dinner hosted by the Indo-American Friendship Forum (IAFF), a banquet hosted by Bellevue Mayor Mr Conrad Lee at the City Hall and paid tribute at the Statue of Mahatma Gandhi located at the Bellevue public library. She also visited the offices of Boeing, and Microsoft and met with senior management in both these companies.

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