Washington, Sep 7 (IANS): Underlining the importance of economic cooperation between the United States and India, the White House has said a healthy bilateral relationship will mean more jobs in both countries.

"I think that the importance of our bilateral relations with India, our economic cooperation with India, cannot be overstated, for the sake of our economy and for India's economy," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters here Tuesday.

"And I think that continues to be the case, and that a healthy bilateral relationship will mean more jobs here and more jobs there," he said in response to a question about President Barack Obama's visit to India last November when he had said US-India business relations would create thousands of jobs in the US.

"And I think that remains the case as much today as it was when the President visited," Carney said.

Obama is set to make a major speech Thursday before a joint session of Congress on job creation to fix America's recession hit economy .

Asked if the President was following demonstrations in India against corruption and against corrupt Indian politicians allegedly holding billions of dollars in Swiss bank accounts, the spokesman said: "I think we're all aware of the protests that you refer to."

"On the matter of money in bank accounts abroad, I would refer you to the Treasury Department."