NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday reviewed the progress of bilateral defence cooperation with his US counterpart Mark T Esper, with the two also exchanging views on the grave situation arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic and the measures to combat it.In the telephonic conversation, the two ministers expressed confidence that the world could overcome the pandemic through “open communication and mutual support”. Singh also briefed Esper about Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’s initiative to coordinate Covid-19 relief efforts in South Asia.On the defence ties front, they reviewed the progress in bilateral defence cooperation as well as expanding military-to-military engagements and defence trade and industry as part of India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership. Esper was slated to visit India on March 15-16 but deferred the visit due to the coronavirus outbreak.