Clinton meets Sonia Gandhi

New Delhi, July 19 (ANI): US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton on Tuesday met Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, in New Delhi.

Clinton's visit to India, her second as secretary of state, was aimed at building on progress made since U.S. President Barack Obama visited in November and declared the two giant democracies were natural partners.

She also met Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon as both sides seek to firm up a relationship that thus far has promised more than it has delivered.

Clinton's visit covered a range of bilateral issues, including counter-terrorism cooperation, which both sides say is a major priority as relations between the two countries continue to improve since end of the Cold War, when India was seen as closer to the old Soviet Union.

Clinton will visit Chennai on Wednesday, the hub of high-value American investments and then head to Bali, Indonesia, the following day to attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). (ANI)