Sushma, Kerry to co-chair India-US dialogue

New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State John Kerry will lead their respective sides at the 2nd India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue here later on Tuesday to review the progress on decisions taken last time and identify new areas of cooperation.

Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her US counterpart Penny Pritzker will be the co-chairs. The duo will also preside over the India-US CEO Forum, that has Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry and Honeywell Chairman Dave Cote as the co-chairs.

Calling the dialogue the most comprehensive mechanism for engagement between the two countries, India's External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the co-chairs will be also have an interaction with a high-level, inter-agency delegation from both sides.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama had decided in 2015 to elevate the then India-US engagement into a Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, reflecting the significance of the trade and economic ties between the two sides.