US Senator and former Democrat Presidential candidate John Kerry met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] on Wednesday and the two leaders are understood to have discussed the ongoing bilateral talks on civilian nuclear cooperation among various facets of bilateral relations.

US Senator John Kerry comes calling

The two leaders are also believed to have shared views on various regional and international issues of mutual concern, official sources said.

The regional issues included those related to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal and Iran, they said.

The visit of Kerry, who came close to being elected as US President last year, assumes significance as it takes place as the Bush Administration is preparing to approach the US Congress for ratification of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Washington visit in July 2005.

Kerry has been a votary of stronger Indo-US relations and during his presidential campaign had emphasised the need for making "genuine improvement" in Next Step in Strategic Partnership besides the whole range of economic and technological issues.

The Senator is on a 12-day tour of the region and his itenerary includes Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Jordan.