US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the Quadri-ministerial in Melbournediscussing the current situation in Afghanistan, diplomatic efforts in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and the latest developments in the Covid-19 outbreak.
Blinken and Jaishankar reviewed bilateral relations on Friday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
The two leaders discussed efforts to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific through Quad Grouping and expanding cooperation on common priorities, including strengthening the rules-based international order, did he declare.
Blinken and Jaishankar met in Melbourne, Australia on the sidelines of the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting; the foreign ministers of Australia, Japan and the United States participated with Jaishankar in the meeting.
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Blinken and Jaishankar also discussed cooperation in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, diplomatic efforts in response to Russian troop build-up on its border with Ukraine, challenges facing Afghanistan and the future of democracy in Myanmar, among other issues of common concern, Price said. .
“Blinken and Jaishankar reviewed the progress made over the past year in broadening and deepening the U.S.-India strategic partnership, which is critical to promoting peace, security and prosperity in the Indo region. -pacific and beyond,” Price said in a readout of the meeting.
On Friday, Jaishankar tweeted, “A review of our bilateral cooperation with @SecBlinken. Reading the progress in different areas has been positive. Our strategic partnership has deepened so visibly.”
A review of our bilateral cooperation with @SecBlinken. The reading of progress in different areas was positive. Our strategic partnership has visibly deepened. pic.twitter.com/LuBkYKa01l
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 11, 2022
“Good meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar to discuss efforts to enhance #IndoPacific cooperation bilaterally and through the Quad. I look forward to working together on issues that affect our two countries,” he tweeted. Blinken.
Good meeting with the Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs @DrSJaishankar discuss efforts to strengthen #IndoPacific bilateral cooperation and across the Quad. I look forward to working together on issues that affect both of our countries. pic.twitter.com/7Yt3z81zev
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 11, 2022
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