New Delhi: Exchanging views on a number of regional and global issues of shared interest, India and the United States, on Tuesday, reaffirmed their commitment to work towards ensuring a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and a prosperous Indo-Pacific.
The foreign secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla and the US under secretary of state for political affairs, David Hale, held virtual foreign office consultations, on Tuesday.
“They reviewed the entire gamut of engagements under the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, including political, economic, commercial, regional and international cooperation,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla had a productive exchange with Under Secretary David Hale on a diverse range of issues during India-US Foreign Office Consultations today. The discussions highlighted the convergences and shared interests between India and the US. pic.twitter.com/hKyVcvLZmx
— Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) July 7, 2020
Both the nations agreed on the need to deepen cooperation in the United Nations, especially during India’s membership of the United Nations security council for the period 2021-2022.
In the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, they agreed to further strengthen the bilateral health partnership, including on pharmaceuticals and vaccine development.
Shringla and Hale also discussed ways to further enhance mutually beneficial trade and people-to-people ties, including through visa facilitation for students and professionals.
They agreed to remain in touch and move forward on the bilateral agenda through a range of mechanisms like the “2+2 Ministerial Dialogue” that India will host later this year, it added.
