EAM S Jaishankar meets US lawmakers, discusses Quad, cooperation on vaccines
"Discussed developments pertaining to Quad and our cooperation on vaccines. Recognise their leadership in building stronger ties," S Jaishankar said after his meeting with Congressman Gregory Meeks.
FollowWashington: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has had a hectic day and a half in Washington DC, where he met government officials, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and the US Trade Representative (USTR) ambassador Katherine Tai, lawmakers, and the private sector.
"Discussed developments pertaining to Quad and our cooperation on vaccines. Recognise their leadership in building stronger ties," Jaishankar said after his meeting with Congressman Gregory Meeks, who is the chairman of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, along with its ranking member, Congressman Michael McCaul.
The minister also had a "good conversation" with the co-chairs of the House India Caucus, Congressman Brad Sherman from the Democratic Party and Congressman Steve Chabot from the Republican Party.
"The US Congress has been a tremendous pillar of support as India meets the Covid challenge," Jaishankar tweeted.
Jaishankar, who is on his first visit to the US during the Biden administration, met with Sullivan on Thursday. Both sides indicated that there was a discussion on regional (Indo-Pacific) or global issues, with Jaishankar specifying, via a tweet, that Afghanistan came up.
The US readout said Jaishankar and Sullivan “welcomed” cooperation that has resulted in the delivery of over $ 500 million in relief materials (state, federal and private sector sources) from the US to India.
“They agreed that people-to-people ties and shared values are the foundation of the US-India strategic partnership that is helping to end the pandemic, supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific, and providing global leadership on climate change,” it said.
All the four US lawmakers have been strong advocates of the India-US relationship.
(With inputs from agency)
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