Focus on business, Afghanistan as Biden begins India visit

US Vice-President Joe Biden begins his four-day visit to India today, becoming the first American vice-president to visit India in three decades.

The visit is aimed at bolstering diplomatic and economic ties. While economics is expected to dominate the visit, other concerns, like the Indian position in Afghanistan after the impending withdrawal of American troops, will also figure in the bilateral talks.

Biden will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi today before heading for Mumbai to meet business leaders and deliver a speech on the economy.

Trade between two countries has grown from $9 billion in 1995 to nearly $100 billion this year. But the US is expected to continue pushing India to allow American companies greater access to the Indian market, with more liberal foreign direct investment rules.

India is concerned over next year's withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. It has spent $2 billion in aid to Afghanistan, and fears the return of Taliban after the US withdrawal.

"We strongly support the role India has played in Afghanistan, leveraging its economic strength to improve Afghanistan's economy," Biden told The Times of India in an interview on Sunday.

He said India's aid "will help to ensure our common goal of a stable and prosperous future for the Afghan people".

During his visit to India in November 2010, President Barack Obama had said Washington and Delhi's relationship would be one of the century's defining partnerships.