US Vice President JD Vance, who is in India for a four-day visit, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday for a closed-door meeting.
According to reports, the talks mainly focused on the India-US trade deal, which both countries are keen to finalise soon.
The Prime Minister personally welcomed JD Vance and his family at his official residence in Delhi.
The meeting took place amid a major global uncertainty over a raging US-China trade war.
“We are committed to mutually beneficial cooperation, including in trade, technology, defence, energy and people-to-people exchanges. India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership will be a defining partnership of the 21st Century for a better future of our people and the world,” PM Modi said.
Delegation-level talks followed it and came at a time when India and the United States are at an advanced stage of discussions to finalise a bilateral trade deal that will benefit both nations.
US President Donald Trump, who imposed a 26 percent tariff over and above the previous 10 percent tariff on Indian goods, has currently paused the new “reciprocal” tariffs for 90 days bringing in some breather.
JD Vance arrived in India earlier in the day and is accompanied by his India-origin Second Lady Usha Vance and their children.
The White House has stated that the Trump administration has put its relations with India as a top priority and is keen to have a trade deal in place.
Indian leaders have said that a trade deal was expected by Autumn, but it is being given priority to be completed by the end of July.
New Delhi has, however, made it clear that it will not be hurried into a deal, nor would it be compelled to make a deal “at gunpoint”.
A deal will only happen when it takes India’s concerns into account, it said.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who will visit Washington DC soon for an IMF meeting, is likely to hold advanced-level talks with senior US officials to finalise the India-US trade deal.
