Visit of Prime Minister Desai of India White House Statement on the Final Meeting With the Prime Minister.

President Carter and the Prime Minister of India, Morarji Desai, met today in the Cabinet Room for 1 hour, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The meeting this morning covered both global and South Asian regional issues. The President outlined to the Prime Minister the current status of the SALT and CTB negotiations and his hopes for rapid movement in both areas. The Prime Minister said that he was happy to hear that progress is being made.

There was also a discussion of the role the nonaligned movement should play in international relations. The President expressed his support for Prime Minister Desai's concept of genuine nonalignment.

The President and the Prime Minister reviewed the situation in Africa. Both the President and the Prime Minister agreed on the importance of preserving territorial integrity in Africa and encouraging Africans to resolve their own problems.

There was also an extensive discussion of South Asia. The President reaffirmed the United States policy of support for the independence and development of all the states in the region, a goal which the Prime Minister shares. The Prime Minister discussed recent developments in relations among the South Asian nations.

The President concluded by expressing his great pleasure at the strengthening of his personal ties with the Prime Minister. They stated that these ties are valuable in maintaining the longstanding and close relationship between our two countries and agreed to continue the bilateral dialog through future meetings and correspondence, as well as through regular consultations between officials of both governments.