Online Desk: US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will travel to India and the Maldives on January 26-31.

While in India, Assistant Secretary Lu will lead a U.S. delegation’s participation at the India-U.S. Forum in New Delhi, said the US Department of State on Friday.

US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey R. Pyatt will also participate.

The delegation will engage with Indian government officials and members of the private sector, academia, and media to discuss and enhance opportunities for partnership between the United States and India.

The Assistant Secretary and delegation will then travel to Maldives, where they will meet with senior Maldivian officials to build U.S.-Maldives cooperation and to advance the establishment of a permanent U.S. Embassy space in Malé.

The delegation will also engage with members of civil society and higher education officials, according to the office of the Spokesperson.