New Delhi, February 10: Following the call between
US President Joe Biden and PM Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed expanded cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
According to a statement by US State Department spokesperson Ned Price, Blinken and Jaishankar discussed regional developments, including the value of cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. During the call, Blinken expressed concern over the military coup and the importance of rule of law and the democratic process in Myanmar.
Taking to Twitter to announce the conversation, Blinken said: "Our partnership with India across the Indo-Pacific is critical to addressing challenges we face in the region and globally. @DrSJaishankar and I had a fruitful discussion about ways to strengthen our cooperation to address regional developments, including the situation in Burma."
Both sides also looked forward to expanded regional cooperation, including through the Quad, and to address the challenges of COVID-19 and climate change.
This comes as members of the Quad framework- the US, India, Japan, and Australia - are working to arrange the first meeting of their leaders amid China's growing clout in the region, reported the Japan Times. This was Blinken's second phone call with Jaishankar after he became the top American diplomat last month. The two leaders first spoke on January 29.
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