India and the US have signed an MoU on counter-terrorism and five other agreements as they agreed to chart their ties as "one of the defining relations" in the 21st century in which New Delhi will have a leadership role in the region and the world.

Besides the Memorandum of Understanding on 'Advancing Global Security and Countering Terrorism', the two countries signed pacts covering education and development, health cooperation, economic trade and agriculture, and green partnerships.

The pacts were signed after Prime Minister and US President Barack Obama held talks in Washington at the White House.

PM Manmohan Singh is the first foreign leader to be hosted as the State Guest under the 10-month-old Obama Administration.

They affirmed their commitment to work together to prevent the spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction- and missile-related technology and to realise their shared vision of a world free of nuclear weapons.

Earlier, at a joint press conference, Obama said US-India relationship will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century.

"India today is a rising and responsible global power. So I believe that the relationship between the United States and India will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century," Obama said.

With an aim of enhancing US-India cooperation on education and development, the two sides launched the Singh-Obama 21st Century Knowledge Initiative which will provide USD 10 million in combined funding to increase university linkages and support junior faculty development between US and Indian universities.

The two sides also launched "Green Partnership" to strengthen US-India cooperation on clean energy, climate change, and food security, reflecting their commitment to taking vigorous action to fight climate change.

... contd.