<p>As John Kerry began his term as the new Secretary of State, the US said people-to-people and public diplomacy relations with India are extremely important going forward.<br /><br />Kerry had yet to make any calls to his Indian or Pakistani counterparts, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland reporters Monday. But a senior official was in New Delhi to highlight the breadth and depth of the US-India people to people relationship.<br /><br />"Obviously people-to-people and public diplomacy relations with India are extremely important going forward," she said.<br /><br />Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Tara Sonenshine, who would be in New Delhi Feb 5-7, was likely to discuss issue like rapes and violence against women, she said.</p>.<p><br />"She almost always has broad, public meetings of one kind or another when she travels, makes an effort to reach out to the public," Nuland said.<br /><br />"So given that this issue is very much on the minds of Indians, I'm sure it will come up in the context of her visit."<br /><br />Earlier, a state department media note said Sonenshine's "visit to India will highlight the breadth and depth of the US-India people to people relationship, particularly our strong educational partnership."<br /><br />Sonenshine will meet Indian officials to discuss US-India education collaboration.<br />She will lead the US delegation to the Government of India conference "Mainstreaming Skills in Education" on Feb 6-7, where she will deliver remarks on US support for India's development of community colleges and the expansion of skills development education.<br /><br />The US delegation to this international conference will include representatives from twelve community colleges.<br /><br />Sonenshine will also meet with Fulbright-Nehru scholars and will tour Indian historical preservation projects that receive funding from the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation.</p>
<p>As John Kerry began his term as the new Secretary of State, the US said people-to-people and public diplomacy relations with India are extremely important going forward.<br /><br />Kerry had yet to make any calls to his Indian or Pakistani counterparts, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland reporters Monday. But a senior official was in New Delhi to highlight the breadth and depth of the US-India people to people relationship.<br /><br />"Obviously people-to-people and public diplomacy relations with India are extremely important going forward," she said.<br /><br />Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Tara Sonenshine, who would be in New Delhi Feb 5-7, was likely to discuss issue like rapes and violence against women, she said.</p>.<p><br />"She almost always has broad, public meetings of one kind or another when she travels, makes an effort to reach out to the public," Nuland said.<br /><br />"So given that this issue is very much on the minds of Indians, I'm sure it will come up in the context of her visit."<br /><br />Earlier, a state department media note said Sonenshine's "visit to India will highlight the breadth and depth of the US-India people to people relationship, particularly our strong educational partnership."<br /><br />Sonenshine will meet Indian officials to discuss US-India education collaboration.<br />She will lead the US delegation to the Government of India conference "Mainstreaming Skills in Education" on Feb 6-7, where she will deliver remarks on US support for India's development of community colleges and the expansion of skills development education.<br /><br />The US delegation to this international conference will include representatives from twelve community colleges.<br /><br />Sonenshine will also meet with Fulbright-Nehru scholars and will tour Indian historical preservation projects that receive funding from the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation.</p>