During his visit, the EAM will focus on continuing the momentum generated by PM Modi and work together on Indo-Pacific and resolve trade issued

NEW YORK: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar began his visit to Washington DC during which he will be meeting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. This is his first bilateral visit to Washington after taking charge as the External Affairs Minister and comes in the backdrop of PM Modi's week-long US visit.

During his visit, the EAM will focus on continuing the momentum generated by PM Modi and work together on Indo-Pacific and resolve trade issued.

EAM had already meet Pompeo as part of the Quad Foreign Minister meet in New York on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly.

A senior State Department official said, "They discussed how increased engagement in the region by Quad members individually and together contributes to improving maritime security, economic growth and development, and good governance."

Trade remains one of the main focus with Trade Minister Piyush Goyal meeting his American counterpart in New York last week. India's Consul General to New York Sandeep Chakravorty responding to WION question on any India US trade deal said, "People are working on it, the trajectory is very positive. We have bridged deficit with US through energy, defence. The announcement will come when it comes"

Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi met Tulsi Gabbard, Representative of Hawaii & US Presidential candidate in New York just before leaving for New Delhi.

Speaking to DD News, Gabbard said,"It is really important that the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy continue to remain focused on strengthening our partnership. We have many many shared interest from economy to trade to security to counter-terrorism to climate change."

On terror, she said,"I think, counter-terrorism and getting rid of the threat coming from terrorism like Al Qaeda and ISIS is certainly in the interest of US and India"

EAM Jaishankar will arrive back to Delhi on 4th October.