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US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Christina B Rocca, on Monday held wide-ranging discussions with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and senior Indian officials on steps to take forward the new momentum in bilateral relations.
Rocca's visit is part of the high-level contacts the two countries have had for the past 18 months.
Her visit is the first to the region after she took charge eight weeks back.
Emerging from a 30-minute meeting with Singh, Rocca said she was very happy to be in India, her first stop in the region.
She will visit Nepal and Pakistan after her two-day visit.
"I am here to talk about bilateral relations and to introduce myself to my colleagues in the Indian government. I am looking forward to a good, strong relationship in the future," she said.
Rocca also held detailed discussions with joint secretary Jayant Prasad on an entire gamut of bilateral ties.
She also met Power Minister Suresh Prabhu. She will call on Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra on Tuesday and have meetings with Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, besides an interactive session with the Confederation of Indian Industries.
An external affairs ministry spokesperson termed her trip as an 'acquaintance visit'. It comes two months after the visit to India of U S Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and a visit by Singh to Washington in April.
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