A senior American diplomat in Kolkata has said that the United States wants to see India's influence increase to the East and South East because the country is a very good example of the values, benefits and the importance of a democracy. <br/><br/>Speaking at the Building Pan Asian Connectivity Conference, the U.S. Consulate General Mr. Craig Hall said, the United States government has said publicly and formally that they have a strategic interest in seeing regional connectivity starting from this part of India increase and extend. Some of these interests include a vision to seeing India's influence increase in the region, he said. <br/><br/>Mr. Hall also mentioned the importance of North-East India, saying that much of the north east today is not stable. He said that there is a little problem here and there, but there is a large slice of North East India that one couldn't go to if one wanted to, and neither could potential investors and businessmen, thereby increasing the disparity between the region and the rest of the country, he said. <br/><br/>Mr. Hall said that economic growth for the nation, region and the global community is also vital to this (strategic) interest for with increased prosperity comes an increase in stability and we should not take stability in the region for granted.