New Delhi: United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Affairs, Donald Lu is scheduled to visit India and Bangladesh from January 12 to January 15, reported ANI. During his visit to India, the top US diplomat will participate in the India-US Forum, said the US Department of State in a statement. The sixth edition of India-US Forum will be held in New Delhi on January 13 and 14.
During his India visit, Lu will hold meetings with senior Indian officials holding discussions over enhancing ties in trade, energy, security, and human rights cooperation between India and the United States.
On his visit to both the South Asian nations, Donald Lu will be engaging in meetings over key issues like energy, trade, security cooperation, religious freedom, labour, and human rights. “Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will travel to India and Bangladesh January 12-15, for meetings on a range of priorities including energy, trade, security cooperation, religious freedom, labour, and human rights,” the US Department of State was quoted saying by ANI.
During his visit to Bangladesh, David Lu will be meeting with senior Bangladeshi officials and civil society leaders to discuss further strengthening ties between the two countries. As per the official statement released by the US Department of State, Lu will also be interacting with Bangladeshi lawmakers seeking their perspectives on labour and human rights and to strengthen economic engagements between the two nations.
Earlier in November, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the ASEAN-India Summit in Cambodia. Jaishankar discussed key areas with Blinken like the Ukraine conflict, Indo-Pacific region and bilateral ties between India and the US.