Kolkata, May 7 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday described her meeting with visiting United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as constructive and creative.
Addressing media after the nearly hour-long meeting with Clinton, Banerjee said: "We had a very positive, constructive, creative and concrete discussion."
"We discussed our burning issues like Darjeeling and Jungle Mahal which are now settled, so that is a good situation... We discussed everything in details - it was an one hour meeting. I will be happy if we work together," she added.
Banerjee further said that discussions had also centered on culture, tourism, IT and entertainment, and added that she had told Clinton to meet her again.
On the issue of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Banerjee said: "We are part of the world, we will allow FDI where we need investment. We did not discuss any strategic issue."
She also said that Clinton appreciated the West Bengal Government's passion for work and implementation of developmental policies.
Earlier, Clinton urged energy-starved India to reduce its oil imports from Iran to maintain global pressure on that country to come clean on its nuclear program.
Addressing a town hall meeting here, Clinton said New Delhi could find and tap alternative sources for oil, and added that Washington would like to see New Delhi do more to reduce its imports from Iran.
"India... is certainly working towards lowering purchases of Iranian oil. We commend the steps they have taken thus far. We hope they will do even more," she said.
Clinton also brings up Hafiz Saeed, saying that she authorized the 10 million dollar bounty leading to information leading to arrest, as a means of showing India that the US stands with it.
She said that both the US and India with their pluralistic societies are the biggest threat to extremists because of their culture of tolerance. The extremists hate tolerance. They want everyone to think the way she do.
Clinton will head to Delhi on Monday afternoon, where she will have meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj.
On Tuesday, she will have a meeting with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna before addressing a joint press conference with him.
Clinton said the United States wanted a peaceful solution and pointed to efforts by President Barack Obama early in his term to reach out to Iran. (ANI)
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