 "India, US hold strategic and commercial talks")
India and the US on Tuesday held their first strategic and commercial dialogue with an aim to ramp up economic exchange to $500 billion a year and enhance regional security, days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with President Barack Obama in New York.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj highlighted the priority areas in bilateral ties were as they inaugurated the India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue.
Swaraj said India and US are on a path of increased co-operation.
"This is a very busy time for India and US relations. Its important that we set timelines to achieve our targets," she said, thanking Kerry for very fruitful discussions between the two countries ahead of Prime Minister Modi's visit to the US.
Secretary of State Kerry said President Obama was looking forward to a meeting with Prime Minister Modi at the UN General Assembly meetings in New York next week.
"And then we have a very robust discussion regarding counter-terrorism, the Indian Ocean, maritime security, South China Sea, the South Asian challenges of the moment, as well as our challenges on a global basis for nuclear non-proliferation and climate change," Kerry said.
"So it's a full agenda with one of our most important partners in the world, the largest democracy in the world.
Together, we're the oldest and one of great common values and common commitment to the freedom of our people, to individual creativity and respect for human rights, and entrepreneurial activity. And I think we have plans to advance our relationship to a $500 billion goal of economic exchange," he said.
Kerry said India and the US together could shape up more secure and prosperous future.
Swaraj said, "The impressive intensity, scale and level of achievements in our bilateral engagement since last year, is a testimony to the leadership, direct supervision and the tremendous importance attached to the bilateral relationship by our leaders, Prime Minister Modi and President Obama."
Swaraj arrived here on Monday to lead the Indian delegation for the dialogue which also includes Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Power Minister Piyush Goyal.
