India, US discuss defence, trade, n-energy cooperation

India and the US discussed cooperation in the areas of defence, trade and investment, and civil nuclear energy among others during a visit of Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar to Washington, a senior government official said on Thursday.

Jaishankar met a host of senior officials, including National Security Advisor Suzanne Rice, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, US Trade Representative Mike Froman and Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"The meetings focused on further consolidating bilateral relations in key areas of cooperation, including defence, trade and investment, and civil nuclear energy and enhancing convergence on regional and global issues," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup.

"In the US Congress, the foreign secretary held meetings with Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator John McCaine, and Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Richard Burr to exchange views on bilateral, regional and international issues," he added.

Jaishankar's visit comes ahead of Narendra Modi's visit to Washington at the end of this month to attend the Nuclear Security Summit.