United States Secretary of State John Kerry held "positive and constructive" discussions with India’s Environment and Forests Minister Prakash Javadekar on the sidelines of the Paris climate change summit on Tuesday. The leaders reportedly discussed the progress made at the ongoing climate change conference, and both the countries’ positions on various aspects of proceedings. After the hour-long meeting, Kerry said the meeting had gone well and that the countries "are working hard,” and added that the US appreciates the Indian delegation’s efforts.

Kerry's optimism comes as a change in positions between the two leaders. Last month, Kerry had said that India would pose a challenge at the climate talks, prompting a backlash from Javadekar, who called the remarks unwarranted and unfortunate. Since the talks at Paris began, India has been criticised by the western media because of its plans to increase its usage of coal to meet its energy requirements, PTI reported. Officials told The Hindustan Times that the meeting was an attempt to diffuse tension after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Barack Obama reportedly led to disagreements on some issues. A crucial round of talks are set to begin in Paris on Wednesday after the review on the first draft of the Paris agreement comes out.