John Kerry to visit India on July 30

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Kerry will co-chair the fifth India-US Strategic Dialogue on July 31.

"External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj will host US Secretary of State John Kerry in New Delhi from July 30 to August 1, 2014. EAM and Secretary Kerry will co-chair the fifth India-US Strategic Dialogue on July 31," the MEA said in a statement.

This will be Kerry's first visit to India since the formation of the new government in the Asian nation.

"This will be Secretary Kerry’s first visit to India since the inception of the new Government and his first meeting with EAM since the two leaders assumed office. During this visit, Secretary Kerry is expected to meet Indian leaders including a call on Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. Secretary Kerry will also visit Bangalore," read the statement.

"During the Strategic Dialogue, the External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj and Secretary of State Kerry will exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. On the bilateral side, their focus will be on expanding cooperation in areas of security, trade and investment, Science & Technology, energy and environment and human services. The two sides will also have useful deliberations on multilateral issues of common interest," it said.

Kerry will be accompanied by a high-level inter-agency delegation with representatives from the Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State amongst others.

Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Deputy Secretary of Department of Energy Daniel Poneman, Under Secretary of Department of Homeland Security Francis X. Taylor and Special Envoy for Climate Change in Department of State Todd Stern will be part of the delegation.

The first Strategic Dialogue was held in Washington DC in June 2010, followed by successive rounds in New Delhi (July 2011), Washington DC (June 2012) and New Delhi (June 2013).