India, US review implementation of initiatives by Modi, Obama

Top officials from India and the US have reviewed the implementation of initiatives taken during the two summits between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama in the past one year.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had a series of meetings with the US officials here yesterday during which he discussed issues ranging from ease of doing business to cooperation on terrorism and climate change.

During his day-long visit, Jaishankar met US National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Trade Representative Michael Froman among others.

Jaishankar and Rice discussed India's role in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region, including for promotion of connectivity and economic integration and relief and reconstruction in Nepal after the earthquake of April 25, according to a statement issued by the Indian embassy here.

"They reviewed the implementation of initiatives taken during the two summits between leaders Prime Minister Modi and President Obama in the past one year," the statement added.

Prime Minister Modi and President Obama held their first bilateral summit in the White House last September. In January this year, Obama travelled to New Delhi where he met Modi for the second time and held a one-to-one and bilateral meetings.

Deputy Secretary of State Blinken, who hosted a luncheon in honour of Jaishankar, discussed with him a range of bilateral, regional and global issues of topical relevance.

The two officials also explored deeper collaboration and engagement to address emerging global challenges like terrorism, climate change and cyber issues and policy coordination on internet governance and other matters.

During their meeting, Jaishankar and Froman covered the ground of India-US economic and commercial engagement.

"They agreed to work together to promote and reinvigorate economic partnership, and to create infrastructure and policy framework to make it attractive for businesses of the two sides to engage with each other," the statement said.

During the Foreign Secretary's stay in the US, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Dana J Hyde also called on him and briefed him of the MCC's planned engagement with India.