NEW DELHI — Vice President JD Vance, who is on a four-day visit to India, said Tuesday that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi made progress on trade talks during their discussions, and confirmed that both sides had finalized the terms of reference for the trade negotiation — a vital step toward setting the road map for the final agreement.

India and the U.S. hope to seal a bilateral trade agreement this year and have set an ambitious target of more than doubling their bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. If achieved, the trade deal could significantly enhance economic ties between the two countries and potentially strengthen diplomatic and military ties as well.

Vance is accompanied on the tour by his wife, Usha Vance, and their three children. — Associated Press