New Delhi, Jun 26 (UNI) Even as the US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo is in the national capital interacting with Indian leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi on further boosting Indo-US ties, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday sought to downplay the differences between the two sides on trade matters.
“…..there are trade issues, but all of which are on the basis of sovereign interests of both the countries,” Mr Goyal said in Lok Sabha during Question Hour.
Answering to supplementary queries, he said both the countries “protect their mutual trade and business interests and both the countries protect their strategic interest”.
He also said – “Given the relationship that has developed during last five years between the two countries, we have today a strong strategic partnership with the United States”.
Mr Pompeo on a crucial visit to India ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump at Osaka in Japan on June 28, kicked off his diplomatic engagements here on Wednesday by meeting Mr Modi.
“Working together to further deepen our strategic partnership. Secretary Pompeo called on PM Narendra Modi to exchange views on various aspects of Indo-US relationship,” MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
Mr Pompeo also held separate parleys with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankr and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
