India, Aug. 27 -- New Delhi Senior Indian and US officials discussed cooperation in key areas such as trade and investment, energy security, counterterrorism and the signing of a new 10-year framework for the Major Defence Partnership at a virtual meeting held this week amid a downturn in bilateral ties.

The intersessional dialogue under the 2+2 mechanism -- which brings together the foreign and defence ministries of the two countries -- was held virtually on August 25, India and the US said in separate statements on Tuesday.

This dialogue is part of preparations for the 2+2 meeting between the defence and foreign ministers of the two sides. Monday's dialogue saw the officials advancing bilateral initiatives, discussing regional securit...