<p class="bodytext">India and the US on Tuesday held virtual talks during which the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation on a full range of international issues and reaffirmed their commitment to work towards ensuring a "free, open, peaceful and prosperous" Indo-Pacific.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla also discussed the ongoing threats to the rules-based international order, bilateral and multilateral diplomatic cooperation, maritime security, and the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the State Department said in a statement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During the virtual Foreign Office Consultations, the two officials discussed bilateral cooperation on a full range of international issues and developed concrete steps to strengthen the US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership established by their leaders, the statement said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They agreed that the US-India health partnership, including cooperation on pharmaceutical and vaccine development, will continue to play a critical role in the world’s recovery from Covid-19.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hale and Shringla affirmed the US and Indian visions of "a free and open Indo-Pacific region, where all countries can prosper, and agreed to work with other Indo-Pacific partners to bring these visions to reality," it said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">China has been fast expanding military and economic influence in the Indo-Pacific region, triggering concern in various countries of the region and beyond.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The two officials also agreed to consult closely on all challenges and endeavor to support each other’s objectives.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They "look forward to US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year and pledged to remain in close contact on regional and international issues of mutual concern," the statement added.</p>
<p class="bodytext">India and the US on Tuesday held virtual talks during which the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation on a full range of international issues and reaffirmed their commitment to work towards ensuring a "free, open, peaceful and prosperous" Indo-Pacific.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla also discussed the ongoing threats to the rules-based international order, bilateral and multilateral diplomatic cooperation, maritime security, and the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the State Department said in a statement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During the virtual Foreign Office Consultations, the two officials discussed bilateral cooperation on a full range of international issues and developed concrete steps to strengthen the US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership established by their leaders, the statement said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They agreed that the US-India health partnership, including cooperation on pharmaceutical and vaccine development, will continue to play a critical role in the world’s recovery from Covid-19.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hale and Shringla affirmed the US and Indian visions of "a free and open Indo-Pacific region, where all countries can prosper, and agreed to work with other Indo-Pacific partners to bring these visions to reality," it said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">China has been fast expanding military and economic influence in the Indo-Pacific region, triggering concern in various countries of the region and beyond.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The two officials also agreed to consult closely on all challenges and endeavor to support each other’s objectives.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They "look forward to US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year and pledged to remain in close contact on regional and international issues of mutual concern," the statement added.</p>