TLI Staff
New Delhi: In the second 2+2 dialogue between India and the US, the two countries have agreed to deepen their cooperation in the areas of defence, trade, counter-terrorism and science and technology among others.
The 2+2 dialogue is a format for discussing bilateral issues at Ministerial level. Under this high-level institutional mechanism between, the Ministers for Defence and External Affairs from each side discuss strategic issues.
In the latest round, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar were hosted by their American counterparts Defense Secretary Mark Esper and the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington.
“We had a brief discussion on trade, and as all of you know, our bilateral trade has registered double-digit growth of late. We have noted very good progress. There are ongoing negotiations on the subject of trade, and I’m very confident that we’ll find a balanced outcome that satisfies both sides,” Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a statement.
The two sides exchanged views on various global and regional issues of mutual interest, including partnership in multilateral fora. Jaishankar deeply expressed gratitude to Secretary of State Pompeo for the US government’s support of the Chabahar project in Iran.
“We reviewed ongoing cooperation in all areas of the interface of foreign policy and defense and outlined new priorities. Our officials will be guided by the strategic direction of today’s talks and will take concrete action in the months ahead in that direction,” the diplomat-turned Minister said.
As per the official statement, India and the US also agreed to take steps to promote better understanding and awareness among each other’s stakeholders.
“We have arrived at a common intent to facilitate regular exchanges between our parliamentarians and also to provide short-term internship opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs through dedicated programs,” it said.
(Picture courtesy: Twitter/MEA India)