The prime ministers of India and Pakistan say they expect the next round of formal talks to continue bringing the two sides closer together.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Thursday the countries have wasted a lot of time on “acrimonious debates,” and that while much progress has been made in the past year, more work still needs to be done.

His comments came after he met for about an hour with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of a regional summit in Maldives.

Mr. Gilani said future talks will be more productive and create a new chapter in the history of India and Pakistan. He said the two leaders discussed all of the core issues between the countries, including water, trade and the divided region of Kashmir, which is claimed in full by both countries.

Before the meeting Thursday, the prime ministers appeared together before cameras smiling and shaking hands. They last met in March to watch India and Pakistan play a cricket match.

No date has been set for the next round of talks.

The meeting Thursday came a day after the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan said relations between the neighboring countries have improved, but there is still work to be done.

India and Pakistan are taking part in a two-day regional summit, which also includes Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Maldives.

Peace talks between India and Pakistan resumed in February, more than two years after 166 people died in an attack by Pakistani militants in India's financial capital, Mumbai. Both sides have pledged to work together to combat terrorism and improve trade.