The MoS External Affairs visit to these countries will impart a new momentum in India’s bilateral engagement

Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture (MoS) Meenakashi Lekhi will undertake an eight-day official visit to Uzbekistan and Switzerland from September 23 to 30, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the MEA, during her visit to Uzbekistan from September 23-26, MoS Lekhi will meet Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov and Minister of Culture Ozodbek Nazarbekov.

She will be delivering a lecture on ‘India’s democratic traditions’ at the prestigious Tashkent State University of Law.

She will also have an interaction with members of the Indian community in Tashkent and meet distinguished Indologists from the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies and other institutions.

As per the Ministry, the MoS will be addressing the students of Bukhara State University as part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations as well as interacting with Indian students at Samarkand State Medical Institute.

During her visit to Switzerland from September 27-30, the MoS will hold discussions with Dr. Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councillor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Foreign Minister) and Alain Berset, Federal Councillor, Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture.

MoS Lekhi will address the inaugural NZZ Impact Finance Conference on "Infrastructure in emerging markets – an engine of growth and real impact" as well as the Annual General Meeting of Swiss-India Chamber of Commerce.

The MoS will also interact with the Indo-Swiss community and will meet with the members of the international community in Geneva.

India enjoys close and friendly relations with both Uzbekistan and Switzerland. The visit of the MoS will help in sustaining the momentum in our bilateral ties with both these countries, the MEA said