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While all eyes are on the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo's visit to India - first ministerial-level visit from the US after India's Lok Sabha polls - External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar informed here that the dialogue will also include discussion on the ongoing trade tensions between the US and India.
Soon after filing his nomination for the Rajya Sabha bypolls from Gujarat, the former foreign secretary clarified that the talks with the US Secretary of State will be held with optimism.
"The (ongoing) trade issues will be definitely discussed. We have our own interests and the US has its own interests. Sometimes they match (while) sometimes there may be some differences. But our effort will be to use diplomacy to bring both our interests on a common ground," said Jaishankar adding, "We will have the discussion with the US Secretary of State with a positive approach."
The trade tension escalated between India and the US on the issues of market access and India's continued business relations with Iran especially for oil purchases. Having termed the meeting with Pompeo to be 'important' from the diplomatic point of view, Jaishankar also clarified that in the matter relating to US-Iran political and economic tensions, India will take a call that suits its national interest.
“..In all these matters, we will be guided by what is in our national interest. And that will be the yardstick of the judgement," Jaishankar told mediapersons at the State BJP headquarters- Shree Kamalam. He pointed out that India has its relations with the US as well as Iran and other nations in that region.
Expressing optimism for the improving relations with China, Jaishankar further stated that since the meeting between the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chinese President Xi Jinping last year, there has been an increased stability in the relations with China.
"When PM met Chinese President, they had a good discussion last year. We will continue dialogue with them. This year there is a likelihood of President Jinping visiting India," he said adding that he is also planning to visit China soon.
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