Jaishankar meets US counterpart Blinken in Australia

BSS :
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken here ahead of a crucial meeting of Quad foreign ministers and reviewed the bilateral ties, saying progress in different domains of Indo-US relations was positive.  
Jaishankar, who is visiting Australia from February 10 to 13 in his first trip to the country as external affairs minister, attended the 4th Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting along with the foreign ministers of Australia, Japan and the United States.
“A review of our bilateral cooperation with @SecBlinken. The readout on progress in different domains was positive. Our strategic partnership has deepened so visibly,” Jaishankar said on Twitter. In his talks with Blinken, the External Affairs Minister discussed a range of bilateral as well as global issues.  
The two ministers are expected to exchange views on regional strategic issues given their shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, amidst China’s aggressive behaviour in the region. Australian Foreign Minister Payne, who is hosting the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting, said that she was looking forward to welcoming her counterparts from India, the US and Japan to “discuss our positive and ambitious agenda in support of a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific”.