Washington, DC
November 13, 2008

Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, and the Indian Sherpa for the G-20 Summit, accompanied by the Indian Ambassador, Shri R. Sen, had a bilateral meeting with his US counterpart Mr. Dan Price. The discussions focused on the issues before the Summit.

Separately, Secretary, DEA, Shri Ashok Chawla participated in the meeting of the Finance Deputies involved in preparing the Summit outcome.

Dr. Ahluwalia accompanied by the Indian Ambassador, Shri R. Sen also had a meeting with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Congressman Jim Leach, nominated by President-elect Obama to meet with delegations at the G-20 Summit on his behalf. There was an exchange of views on issues related to the current international economic and financial crisis, the Summit, and also bilateral relations. Secretary Albright, inter alia, conveyed that the President-elect attached high priority to the further strengthening of relations between India and the US.