India, Jan. 12 -- US ambassador-designate Sergio Gor on Monday emphasised the importance of the India-US partnership and said the two sides are actively engaged in concluding a bilateral trade deal, signalling Washington's desire to reset bilateral ties hit by months of severe strains.

The US and India are bound by shared interests and a "relationship anchored at the highest levels", and Washington intends to invite New Delhi next month to join Pax Silica, the flagship US initiative to build a secure and resilient global supply chain for semiconductors and AI technology, he said in a brief arrival speech at the US embassy.

The remarks by Gor, a close aide of President Donald Trump who earlier served as the head of personnel appointments...