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US diplomat Donald Lu embarks on state trip to India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
His itinerary includes meetings with consulate personnel in Chennai to bolster engagement in southern India.
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Donald Lu serves as the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs. / X/@StateDept
Donald Lu, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, will be in India on a state trip commencing on May.10. Lu will also visit Sri Lanka and Bangladesh during the trip that ends on May.15.
"Lu's trip will strengthen bilateral cooperation with each country and demonstrate US support for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," the US State Department said in a media note on May.9.
In Chennai, Lu is scheduled to meet with the consulate personnel to bolster bilateral engagement in southern India.
Lu’s itinerary underscores Washington’s commitment towards improving partnerships and regional stability in South and Central Asia.
The son of an immigrant to the United States, Lu has earlier served in the Peace Corps along with the US Foreign Service. He previously served as the US Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan from 2018-2021 and the US Ambassador to Albania from 2015-2018.
Lu last traveled to India and Bangladesh from January 12-15, wherein he attended meetings with officials for cooperation in the energy, trade, security cooperation, religious freedom, labor and human rights sectors.
In February 2024, Lu had acknowledged during a discussion in Washington that the US was a “big force” in diplomatic matters pertaining to the Indian Ocean region but India was a much “bigger force” in the region.
“If you are going to get this right, you have to work with Indians and make sure what we are doing is consistent with the direction they are moving in with respect to the Indian Ocean. They are historically the big player. So we are having interesting talks, including talks which will launch at the end of this month on Africa to think about how we are working together particularly in the littoral states of Africa that border Indian Ocean,” Lu had said.
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