Jaishankar and Rubio discuss India-US relations, global issues beyond ASEAN

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur on Monday and discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues amid the ongoing trade talks between the two countries.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

“Pleased to meet Secretary Rubio in Kuala Lumpur this morning. Appreciated the discussion on our bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues,” Jaishankar said in an ex-post.

The meeting took place in the backdrop of the proposed bilateral trade agreement between India and the US, which, according to an official, is “very close” to conclusion.

So far, five rounds of negotiations have been completed for the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement between India and America.

On Sunday, Jaishankar held separate talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and his Thai counterpart Sihasak Phuangketkaew. The 11-nation ASEAN is considered one of the most influential groupings in the region, with India and several other countries including the US, China, Japan and Australia as its dialogue partners.

Malaysia, as the current chair of the group, hosts the annual ASEAN summit and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur.