Biegun emphasizes on greater Quad cooperation in Delhi meetings
EMPHASISING on the greater Quad cooperation, Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun has underscored the importance of the US-India partnership, particularly in advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The State Department said this at the conclusion of October 12-14 India visit of Biegun, during which he delivered keynote remarks at the India-US Forum and met senior Indian government officials ahead of the US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year.
At the India-US Forum, Biegun joined Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla to underscore the importance of the US-India partnership, particularly in advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific, the State Department said.
Biegun emphasised the work of the Quad towards a region protected and made prosperous in equal measure by strong and peaceful nations in the Indo-Pacific.
He also underscored enhanced cooperation among the Quad to create resilient supply chains, promote transparency and increase maritime security, topics most recently discussed in the October 6 meeting of Foreign Ministers attended by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the State Department said in a readout of his trip.
In his meetings with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla and Defense Secretary Ajay Kumar, the top American diplomat discussed the US efforts to work with India and like-minded partners on a range of issues including regional security, economic cooperation and coordinated efforts to address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While in New Delhi, he also met with Bhutanese Ambassador to India Major General Vetsop Namgyel to reaffirm the United States’ close relationship with the people of Bhutan, the statement added.
Jaishankar on October 6 held talks with Pompeo in Tokyo, focusing on key bilateral and regional issues and resolving to work together to advance peace and security in the Indo-Pacific and around the globe. They were in Tokyo to attend a ministerial meeting of the Quad or Quadrilateral coalition.