He will be in Germany from January 28 to 29 and prepare the way for India-Germany Summit level meeting to be held later this year when the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will be visiting Germany.

During his visit to Germany, Khurshid will hold bilateral discussions with German Foreign Minister Dr Guido Westerwelle and would call on the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel. Amongst his other engagements are meetings with the German Minister of Education and Research Dr AnnetteSchavan and the Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit.

Khurshid’s discussions will focus on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

India and Germany are strategic partners since the year 2000 and share long-standing friendly relations based on common values of democracy, respect for fundamental rights and mutual trust. Both countries are celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations.

Khurshid will be in Belgium from January 30 to 31 and have bilateral discussions with the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Didier Reynders and with European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Vice President of the European Commission, Baroness Catherine Ashton.

Discussions will focus on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

India and the European Union are bound by strong and friendly ties. India was amongst the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the European Economic Community. Today, EU is one of our largest trading partners, and an important source of technology and home to a large and influential Diaspora. Both sides endeavour to develop common approaches to address new and emerging challenges. The India-EU Summit meeting will be held in Brussels in the summer and the External Affairs Minister's discussions with the EU leadership is a precursor to the visit of the Prime Minister.

Diplomatic relations between India and Belgium were established in 1948, and they continue to be warm and friendly. Bilateral relations are strengthened by regular interactions at high levels. India will be the partner country in the Europalia 2013, the internationally acclaimed cultural festival hosted in Belgium from Oct 2013 to January 2014.