Keen to foster closer bilateral strategic ties, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will pay a day's visit to India on March 16 for talks with Indian leaders on important bilateral, regional and international issues.
This is Rice's first trip to India after assuming her new charge in the second Bush administration.
During her stay, Rice will be discussing bilateral relations, regional developments and other global issues of
mutual interest, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters.
Rice, who will also travel to Pakistan and Afghanistan, will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and have wide-ranging discussions with External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh.
She is also expected to call on United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition Lal Kishenchand Advani.
The two sides are expected to review Indo-US strategic ties which have attained a new momentum in recent months.
The situation in Iraq and developments in West Asia and Afghanistan besides UN reforms are expected to figure during
the parleys.
The progress in the Indo-Pak peace process, the political crisis in Nepal and other developments in the neighbourhood are also likely to come up.
Rice is likely to do some preparatory work for the expected visit of President George W Bush later this year.