External Affairs Minister S M Krishna would lead a high powered Indian delegation to the US next week for the third India-US Strategic Dialogue that would focus on human development and enhancing people to people relationship.
Briefing the Media persons in New Delhi this evening , the External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that Mr. Krishna will co-chair the dialogue with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the third successive term on Wednesday. He said , a series of high-level official and non-official meetings have also been scheduled during the four day visit of the Minister.
At the Strategic Dialogue, Mr. Krishna would be accompanied by Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Desmukh, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of State for Women & Child Development Krishna Tirath, and Minister of State Ashwin Kumar.
Also accompanying Mr. Krishna will be deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Public Information Infrastructure & Innovations Sam Pitroda, who is also the Chairman of National
Innovation Council.
On Tuesday, Mrs. Clinton would co-chair with the Indian Human Resources Development Minister, 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.
On Monday , Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Desmukh would co-chair a meeting with his American counterpart discussing cooperation in the field of science and technology. Representatives from more than 15 US Government agencies and research institutions will meet with their Indian ounterparts 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 on Thursday & Friday.
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.
Besides Clinton and Azad, the meeting would be addressed by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Minister of Health of Ethiopia and Anthony Lake, Executive Director, UNICEF.
