India-US strategic dialogue to be held next week

Our BureauPTI Updated - November 15, 2017 at 04:40 PM.

A file photo of the External Affairs Minister, Mr S.M. Krishna.

The External Affairs Minister, Mr S.M. Krishna, will be travelling to the US for third India-US Strategic Dialogue on June 13.

He will be accompanied by several Union Ministers. Mr Krishna will also address the industry on June 12 in Washington DC.

Mr Krishna will visit Cuba from June 14-16. He will also meet the President of Cuba.

PTI reports:

Mr Krishna, who will arrive in Washington DC on June 11 on a four-day visit, will co-chair the dialogue with US Secretary of State, Ms Hillary Clinton.

While the Strategic Dialogue in itself is scheduled for June 13, a series of high-level official and non-official meetings have been scheduled for next week, officials said.

They, however, remained tight-lipped on what would be the outcome of this annual top-level talks between the two countries — which by all accounts would be the last one with Ms Clinton as the Secretary of State.

At the Strategic Dialogue, Mr Krishna would be accompanied by the Science and Technology Minister, Mr Vilasrao Desmukh, the Union Health Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Minister of State for Women & Child Development, Mr Krishna Tirath, and the Minister of State, Mr Ashwin Kumar.

Also accompanying Mr Krishna will be the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure & Innovations, Mr Sam Pitroda, who is also the Chairman of National Innovation Council.

On June 12, Ms Clinton would co-chair with the Indian Human Resources Development Minister, Mr Kapil Sibal, a day-long Higher Education Dialogue which is a follow-on to last fall’s Higher Education Summit.

This will focus on advanced research and innovation and workforce development, specifically, community colleges.

As a result of the day-long dialogue, the two countries are expected to announce the first eight partnership projects to be funded jointly by the US and India through the Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative, officials said.

On June 11, Mr Desmukh would co-chair a meeting with his American counterpart discussing cooperation in the field of science and technology.

The ministerial would be preceded by the official-level meetings on science and technology on June 8.

Representatives from more than 15 US Government agencies and research institutions will meet with their Indian counterparts this year to expand cooperation in the Basic and Applied Sciences, Health and Medical Sciences, and Atmospheric, Environment and Earth Sciences.

It will feature thematic discussions on policy initiatives to strengthen bilateral research cooperation, to commercialise research and to retain and advance women in science.

Officials said Mr Krishna would also address the annual gala of the US India Business Council (USIBC).

Moving away from bilateral co-operation, US and India along with Ethiopia will be convening, in collaboration with UNICEF a ‘Call to Action’ on child survival from June 14-15.

Focused on ending preventable child deaths through survival of newborns, children and mothers, the two-day event will convene 700 prominent leaders from government, the private sector, and civil society to kick off a long-term, business-like effort to save children’s lives.

Published on June 8, 2012 05:36