External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, in his opening remarks during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at New Delhi’s Hyderabad House, said he was looking forward to the discussions and was confident they would be “open and productive.”
In his remarks, EAM Jaishankar said, “We have a comprehensive global strategic partnership, which, in plain language, means that we have very deep and broad-based cooperation. It is a relationship that impacts and influences other regions and the world.”
“And that is because we have converging interests on many issues and in many parts of the world. So, I look forward to our conversation today. These are complicated times, but as strong partners, I am very confident that we will have very open and productive discussions. Once again, a very warm welcome,” he added.
Both leaders later held delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House, with discussions focusing on strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, technology and other sectors.
Earlier on Saturday, Rubio called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also extended an invitation on behalf of US President Donald Trump to visit the White House in the near future.
He briefed PM Modi on the “sustained progress” in bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including defence, strategic technologies, trade and investment, energy security, connectivity, education and people-to-people ties, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Saturday.
In a post on X, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said that both sides had a “productive discussion” on ways to deepen US-India cooperation across various sectors during the meeting.
He also said that India remains a “vital partner” for the United States.
“Great to join Secretary Rubio for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We had a productive discussion on ways to deepen US-India cooperation across security, trade and critical technologies — areas that strengthen both our nations and advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. India is a vital partner to the United States!” Gor posted on X.
“News! Secretary Marco Rubio extended an invitation on behalf of President Donald Trump for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House in the near future!” he added in another post.
-IANS
