Washington: Indian Ambassador-designate to the US Ranendra Sen met Secretary of State Colin Powell and discussed with him various issues, including the progress made in the "strategic partnership" between the two countries.

Sen presented his credentials to the Secretary of State yesterday (Aug 11, 2004) and had a formal meeting with Powell after that. The discussions focussed on the "the new stage in strategic partnership" between New Delhi and Washington.

Sen said that the conversation between him and Powell focussed on various issues, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's forthcoming visit to the US to attend the UN General Assembly meeting, but centered primarily on the bilateral relations between the two countries.

"In general terms, I would say Secretary of State Powell expressed his satisfaction at the development of the bilateral relations, following the elections in India, maintaining the momentum in these relations in diverse fields," Sen told reporters.

Expressing confidence that the momentum in Indo-US relations will be maintained, Sen said that both sides support maintaining the upward swing in relations and attach utmost importance to them.

He said that the leaders of both countries keep in touch with each other regularly over phone and Defence exchanges between India and the US are continuing.

Joint air exercises have been held both in India and the US and an Indian mission headed by External Affairs Ministry official S Jaishankar is having discussions on the "new partnership", with the first stage covering peaceful uses of nuclear energy and space cooperation, he said.