US official Wendy Sherman to visit India to prepare for strategic dialogue

WASHINGTON: US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman is travelling to India next week to hold discussions with her Indian counterparts on a wide range of issues including Iran and the up-coming US-India Strategic Dialogue in Washington.

During her four day India trip, Sherman besides her meetings in New Delhi would make a trip to Patna - the first by such a high-ranking US official to Bihar on April 3.

In New Delhi, Sherman will meet with the Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and other senior Indian officials to discuss preparations for the US-India Strategic Dialogue, to be held in Washington DC in mid-June, the State Department said in a statement.

Iran issue will also be discussed during the meetings. "She will also hold meetings with figures from Indian civil society, higher education, political opposition and youth organisations," the statement said.

On Monday, April 2, Sherman will give a speech at the American Centre in New Delhi on US-India relations.

She will then travel to Patna on April 3, where she will meet with local officials, the State Department said.

From India, Sherman would travel to Kathmandu, Nepal, where she will meet with the Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, other Nepalese officials and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Secretary-General Ahmed Saleem.

She will also hold a roundtable discussion with LGBT activists and meet with Tibet community leaders.

From Kathmandu, Under Secretary Sherman will travel to Dhaka on April 5.

While in Dhaka she will meet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, and other Bangladeshi officials to discuss a broad range of bilateral and regional issues including governance, civil society, women's issues and economic prosperity.

Under Secretary Sherman will also visit a Grameen Borrower Group site outside of Dhaka.