US-India dialogue this summer in Delhi: Hall

Kolkata: US and India would engage in a dialogue in Delhi this summer covering a host of issues ranging from trade and investment to space cooperation, Consulate General of US in Kolkata, Craig Hall said.

"In Delhi this summer, both the US and India will have a dialogue on various issues. The date has not been fixed yet. The meet will be deliberated among 80 different working groups and task forces," Hall said at the Kolkata Press Club here today.

Hall said US and India had started the strategic dialogue engaging the foreign ministries of the two countries in 2010.

"The ambit has now been extended to a commercial dialogue involving the two commerce ministries. US has this kind of dialogue with very few countries, including China. This shows India is important from the US' viewpoint," Hall said.

He said issues relating to trade and investment, military relations, education, health and space cooperation would be deliberated upon.

Regarding military cooperation, the US envoy said both the countries were working together in the production of jet engines and designing of a new aircraft carrier.

The bilateral trade target had been set at USD 500 billion from USD 105 billion in 2014, he said.

Hall added that India could be a great influence in countries like Myanmar and Thailand because of its large democracy.