Amid tensions with China, Foreign Minister Jaishankar spoke to his US counterpart

New delhi date. 7 August 2020, Friday

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his US counterpart Mike Pompeo spoke on the phone. It discussed bilateral and multilateral cooperation on issues including the coronavirus global epidemic and international concerns, including the Indo-Pacific region. The two leaders reiterated the importance of India-US relations in maintaining security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and the world, said Kyle Brown, Deputy Spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs.

India and the United States discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the resource-rich Indo-Pacific region. China is trying to increase its influence in the region. The issue was also discussed at length in the third phase of India-US security talks in Goa in 2018. The United States has consistently encouraged India to play a greater role in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region.

"The two leaders agreed to continue to work closely together on regional and international issues and to advance the US-India 'Two Plus Two' ministerial story and quadrilateral story next year," Brown said.

India, the US, Australia and Japan formed the Quartet in November 2017 with the aim of developing new strategies to free important sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific from Chinese influence. This was followed by the first 'Two Plus Two' story in September 2018 in New Delhi.

During the phone conversation, Jaishankar and Pompeo discussed bilateral and multilateral cooperation on issues of international concern, including ways to deal with the Kovid-19 global epidemic, support the peace process in Afghanistan and current measures to destabilize the region, Brown said.

Both leaders have been in constant contact with the Corona virus during the global epidemic. The epidemic has killed more than seven million people worldwide and infected about 19 million.