New Delhi, Jan. 13 -- US ambassador-designate Sergio Gor struck a conciliatory tone on Monday amid unprecedented strains in bilateral relations by emphasising India's importance as a partner for the US and said the two sides remain actively engaged for concluding a trade deal, and that India would soon be part of Pax Silica. The US and India are bound by shared interests and a "relationship anchored at the highest levels", and Washington will invite New Delhi next month to join Pax Silica, the flagship American initiative to build a secure and resilient global supply chain for semiconductors and AI technology, he said in a speech at the US embassy three days after arriving in the country. The remarks by Gor, a close aide of President Donald Trump who earlier served as the head of personnel appointments at the White House, appeared to signal Washington's desire to reset bilateral ties hit by months of strains and were in marked contrast to critical comments by other senior American officials in recent weeks....