Explore opportunities to enhance ongoing cooperation

India and the US held a bilateral 2+2 intersessional meeting at the official level on Friday in virtual mode. The talks between Foreign and Defence Ministry officials of both countries were held a day after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with his Chinese counterpart in Moscow.

Both sides reviewed the progress in bilateral ties in defence, security and foreign policy areas since the last 2+2 ministerial meeting held in Washington in December.

They explored opportunities for enhancing the cooperation in these fields based on mutual interest. They also exchanged views on regional developments and agreed to pursue their quest for a free and inclusive Indo-Pacific, according to a MEA statement. The Indian delegation was led jointly by Vani Rao, Joint Secretary (America) in the MEA, and Somnath Ghosh, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) in the Defence Ministry. The US delegation was led by Dean Thompson, senior bureau official in State Department, and David Helvey, acting Assistant Secretary in the Department of Defence. — TNS

Courtesy : Daily Tribune:  11thSeptember, 2020