India, April 21 -- India and the US on Monday welcomed "significant progress" in negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US vice president JD Vance discussed ways to bolster cooperation in energy, defence and strategic technologies.

The talks for the first tranche of a trade deal, which is focused on issues such as tariffs and market access, and cooperation within the framework of the bilateral comprehensive global strategic partnership figured in a meeting between Modi and Vance at the prime minister's official residence on Monday evening.

Modi hosted Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance and their children - sons Ewan and Vivek and daughter Mirabel - for a dinner that was also attended by cabinet minis...