According to the official reports, India and the United States begin their first strategic dialogue Wednesday with both sides keen to move beyond symbolism to concretize cooperation in areas ranging from energy, agriculture, science and technology and education to defense and counter-terrorism.

It has been reported that Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna, who would lead the inaugural ministerial level dialogue with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, would outline his vision of India-US relationship transformed by the landmark India-US civil nuclear deal in an address at the India Business Council (USIBC) on Wednesday.

Krishna's address at the 35th anniversary meeting of the USIBC, representing some 300 US companies investing in India, will focus on the theme of emerging opportunities in India-US cooperation in the field of innovation and knowledge industries, which is one of the sunrise areas of engagement between the two countries.

The report also clears that keen to counter a public perception that President Barack Obama is not as warm towards India as his predecessor George Bush was, he plans to attend a reception for Krishna hosted by Clinton after chairing their strategic dialogue on Thursday.

The rare gesture of attending a reception for a visiting minister is clearly intended to counter suggestions that India-US relations have slipped from their glory days under Bush who had pushed hard to make the nuclear deal a reality.

Ahead of the dialogue, refuting a suggestion that US ties with New Delhi have taken a backseat with Obama focusing his attention on Pakistan and Afghanistan, US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake asserted, "The Obama administration attaches great importance to our relations with India." (With Inputs from Agencies)