Kerry encourages India to hold dialogue with Pakistan

“Terrorism is terrorism”, Kerry said at a press conference alongside India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.

“We also had a detailed exchange of views on climate change and clean energy issues”, she said. Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. Investigations into this year’s airbase attack have so far been inconclusive.

Kerry arrived in New Delhi on Monday and is accompanied by USA commerce secretary Penny Pritzker.

The first S&CD was held on September 22, 2015 in the US.

The two countries also agreed to restart a three-way dialogue with Afghanistan over its future, and signed an agreement to combat and counter cyberattacks.

The talks came a day after the USA and India signed a military agreement that would enable them to use each other’s military assets including land, air and naval bases for fix and replenishment of supplies.

The two countries have also deepened defence, counter terrorism and cyber security in recent years, he said. Norms have been relaxed in brownfield pharma sector, processed food, defence production, railways etc. The two-way trade between the countries stood at about United States dollars 109 billion past year.

Besides, the two sides would deliberate on ways to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.

Kerry said these developments “couldn’t come at a more important moment”.

“Similarly both sides are expected to discuss the possibilities for collaboration in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship and also exchange information and best practices relating to improving ease of doing business”, the statement added.

These efforts are aimed at ensuring adherence to global quality requirements for a range of products.

“Our partnership in clean energy has received fresh impetus through launch of several initiatives that are aimed at facilitating clean energy investments from the USA into India”, she said, adding: “We need to significantly strengthen our collaboration in this area on a scale that will make it viable for us to make quantum transition to renewable energy away from fossil fuel, and achieve our ambitious climate goals”. “Potential topics for engagement are likely to be identified during the ‘C” Track meeting with the United States. He also said that there should be no double standards while looking at terrorism. The Roundtable is organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

“Overall, our meeting has contributed to our efforts to forge a closer partnership with the USA in pursuit of our development goals and strategic priorities”.

On APEC, Swaraj said India’s membership at the forum has both “strategic significance as it has commercial potential” for India.

The co-chairs will be accompanied by a high-level inter- agency delegation on both sides.